IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIP-MOTIONS FOR THE VALVE APPARATUS OF PRIME-MOVERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Edge, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIP-MOTIONS
FOR THE VALVE APPARATUS OF PRIME-MOVERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Edge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1879.
JONATHAN EDGE, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIP-MOTIONS FOR THE VALVE APPARATUS OF PRIME
MOVERS."
My Invention relates to the class of prime movers which are actuated by means
In the class of
of steam, and controlled by means of variable cut-off valves.
engines to which my Invention more particularly relates the inlet valves are caused
to close suddenly when the steam is to be cut-off by the action of trip motions
which release the actuating rod or part from the part through which the movement
is transmitted to the valve. According to my Invention I employ a trip lever,
which is mounted upon a stud or upon a suitable fulcrum, and is raised and lowered
or moved upon its fulcrum by a lever or part which is connected with the governor.
The part which actuates the valve, which part I will hereinafter term a recipro-
cating rod, for convenience of description, engages with a stud or step upon a lever
or part which acts upon the valve to open the same. A part fixed to or formed on
the said reciprocating rod is suitably formed to engage with the outer end of the
said trip lever. For this purpose the said part may be stepped, fluted, or notched,
and the end of the said lever be suitably shaped to engage with the steps, flutes, or
notches in the said part. The said stepped part is curved or inclined, or is so
arranged in relation with the fulcrum of the trip lever as that when the said part
comes into contact with the outer end of the said lever when the said reciprocating
rod is in motion to open the valve, the said lever is caused to turn upon its fulcrum.
The said trip-lever, by so turning, raises the said reciprocating rod, or so other-
wise moves it as that it is disengaged from the lever or part through which the
movement is transmitted to the valve, and the said valve is then free to be closed
by the action of a spring or by other suitable means. The arrangement is such
I Drics 627

page_text: as that the governor has simply to move the said trip-lever, and has not to bear
any part of the strain required to effect the disengagement, the said trip lever when
effecting the disengagement having no connection with the governor. To further
relieve the governor I may joint the outer end of the trip lever to the inain part of
the said lever in order that the said outer end may be free to yield when the afore-
said reciprocating rod is moving back. In some or in all cases I provide a special
step which engages with the end of the trip-lever only in case the said lever falls
to its lowest point through the governor, breaking down or ceasing to support the
said trip-lever: The said special step is or may be designed to effect the disengage-
ment of the said reciprocating rod before the inlet valve is opened, in which case
the engine would come to a standstill.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jonathan Edge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
November 1879.
:
JONATHAN. EDGE, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIP-MOTIONS FOR THE VALVE APPARATUS OF PRIME
MOVERS."
"
My Invention relates to the class of prime movers which are actuated by means
of steam, and controlled by means of variable cut-off valves. In the class of engines
to which my Invention more particularly relates the inlet valves are caused to close
quickly when the steam is to be cut-off by the action of trip-motions which release
the actuating rod or part from the part through which the movement is transmitted
to the valve. According to my Invention I employ a trip lever, which is mounted
upon a stud or upon a suitable fulcrum, and is raised and lowered or noved upon
its fulcrum by a lever or part which is connected with the governor, or I connect
When the
the governor with a rod or part which is jointed to the said lever.
steam is to be cut off, the end of the trip lever or rod comes into contact with a
part which is formed with curved or inclined surfaces which, by preference, are
stepped, fluted, or notched. When the said part and the end of the lever or rod
come into contact, the said lever is caused to turn upon its fulcrum. The said trip
lever by so turning disengages the valve spindle from the part through which the
movement is transmitted to the valve, and the said valve is then free to be closed
by the action of a spring or by other suitable means. The arrangement is such as
that the governor has simply to move the said trip-lever, and has not to bear any
part of the strain required to effect the disengagement; the said trip-lever, when
effecting the disengagement, having no connection with the governor.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached hereto
two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings I
will now refer. In Sheet 1 Fig. 1 illustrates the application of my Invention to
an engine of the Corliss type. In the said Fig. A is part of the cylinder of the
engine, and b is the spindle of one of the inlet valves; upon this spindle is fixed

page_text: a lever c. Upon a stud d a lever e is mounted and is connected by one end (not
seen in the Drawing) with the eccentric rod so as to have a vibrating movement.
Upon the other end are mounted two catches f, f, which are stepped to engage with
projections on the levers c. The free end of each of the said catches is formed with
a notched inclined face f' Upon a stud or fulcrum is mounted a trip lever g, and
the said lever is sustained by a lever g, which is connected by means of a rod.h
with the governor. The other end of the cylinder, not seen in the Drawing,
is provided with a corresponding lever, which is connected with the lever g²
by means of a rod h¹, so that both trip levers move in unison. When
the catch fis moving in the indicated direction the valve is opened to
admit steain to the cylinder. The return movement to close the valve
is effected by means of a spring acting upon the lever c or by other
suitable means. When the engine increases its speed the point of the trip
lever is raised by the action of the governor; and on the contrary, when the
speed of the engine decreases the point of the trip lever is lowered. As the
catch moves in the indicated direction the face f' comes into contact with the
point of the trip lever, whereby the point of contact is caused to move in a circle
around the centre of motion of the said trip lever. This has the effect of raising
the end of the catch, whereby it is disengaged from the lever c, and the spring
acting on the said lever closes the valve. It will be seen that the contact of the
face f¹ occurs earlier when the point of the trip lever is raised, and later when the
said point is lowered. When the point of the trip lever is in its highest position
the parts may be so arranged as that the lever c is disengaged before the valve
opens. Fig. 2 illustrates a modification in the arrangement. In this example the
blocks with which the catches f engage are fitted to swivel on the ends of the
lever c, and are each connected with a trip lever i. The free end of each lever i is
connected by a rodj with a link k which is suspended by a double bell-crank lever
which is connected by means of a rod with the governor. As the engine varies
in speed the lever is turned upon its fulcrum, whereby one of the links k is raised
and the other lowered. As the catches f are moved to and fro, projections on the
inner ends of the rods j come into contact with notched or stepped surfaces m, m³,
which are formed on a part which is fixed to the cylinder or is otherwise secured
in position. When the movement of either of the rods j is arrested by one of the
faces m the trip lever i is caused to turn upon its fulcrum, whereby the attached
block is caused to swivel and thereby to raise the end of the catch which
thereby becomes disengaged, and the valve is permitted to close. The closure of the
valves is effected by means of a spiral spring which is enclosed within a cylinder n
or by other suitable means. The faces m are curved or inclined in such a manner
as that the cut off is effected earlier or later, according to the position of the lever
as regulated by the governor. It will be seen that the governor has simply to move
the lever and the balanced links and rods j, k, and that the disengagement of the
valve apparatus will not have a disturbing influence upon the governor. Fig. 6
illustrates a further modification wherein the ordinary corliss forked catches are
employed. The two links of each of the spring forks o are separated to effect the
disengagement by means of cams 2 which are arranged to swivel upon studs
and are attached to levers q. Rods r are jointed to the said levers, and the
free ends of these rods rest upon a table t which is raised and lowered by means of
trip levers i, i, which are connected with the governor. The disengagement is
effected when the movement of either of the rods is arrested by one of the fixed
notched faces m, m, whereby the lever i is caused to turn as in the previous
example, and the attached cam being thereby turned upon its axis forces apart the
limbs of the fork which becomes dis-engaged from the valve lever c. The disengage-
ment is effected earlier or later, according to the position of the table t, as determined
by the governor. The closing movements of the valves are effected by means of a
spring or of springs enclosed within a cylinder n. A suitable arrangement of the
the spring is indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, to which I will now refer. In this example
B represents a portion of the cylinder of an engine which is provided with a slide

page_text: valve. In Fig. 8, which is a plan, the valve box is represented in section. The
slide valve is formed with two ports u, u', through which the steam is admitted to
the cylinder. A cut off plate vis fitted to slide upon the back of the said valve,
and alternately closes the said ports. To the main valve spindle w is fixed an arm x
which is fitted to slide upon or to pass over the spindle y of the cut off plate. To
a part which is fixed or formed upon the spindle y is hinged a catch which is
formed with two steps which alternately engage with the arm x. To the said
catch is hinged a trip lever i which is formed with a finger upon each side, as
indicated by dotted lines. To the upper end of the said lever is jointed one end of
a rod j, the other end of the said rod being jointed to a rod h which is connected
with the governor.
A fixed part is formed with two inclined or curved faces m, m,
with which fingers or projections carried by the rod j come into contact at an earlier
or later period in the stroke of the piston, as determined by the governor. Upon
the spindle y are fixed long collars z which are fitted to slide in the end covers of a
cylindern. The inner ends of the said collars are fitted to slide into hollow pistons
a, a¹, which are arranged to slide within the said cylinder; a spiral spring extends
between the two pistons. In the example the spindle w is supposed to be moving
in the direction indicated, and as the catch f engages with the arm x the spindle y
is also caused to move in the same direction, the collar z forcing inwards the piston a,
and thereby compressing the spiral spring. It will be seen that the valve v moves
with the main valve. When the movement of the rod j is arrested by the face m
the trip lever i turns upon its hinge, whereby one of the aforesaid fingers is pressed
upon the arm x, thereby lifting the catch f. The spindle y is now released from the
spindle w, and the spiral spring causes the valve v to make a quick return move-
ment, which has the effect of closing the port u. The air imprisoned between the
piston a and the cylinder cover prevents the movement of the parts from being
too sudden. When the spindle w is moving in the contrary direction the other
step seen on the catch fin Fig. 7 engages with the arm x, and the two spindles
move together until the trip lever again engages the spiral spring acting to
return the valve v to a central position, when the said valve is moved in either
direction; springs b¹ restore the trip lever to a vertical position after each disengage-
ment. The arrangement of the spiral spring and pistons may be used in any of the
previous examples. Figs. 9 and 10 are illustrative of a modification applicable to
cases wherein the inlet slide valves do not also act as exhaust valves. In Fig. 10
the two inlet ports are covered by two sliding blocks or plates c¹ and c². The valve
spindle passes through a cylinder n, in which is a spiral spring. A block is
fixed to the spindle and also to the centre of the spring, the two ends of the spring
being attached to blocks at the ends of the cylinder. The said spring tends always
to bring the valves into position to close the inlet ports of the steam cylinder.
The two limbs of a forked spring catch e' are fixed to a block g¹, which is fitted to
slide upon the said spindle, and is formed with gudgeons, which are taken hold of
by the forked end of the excentric rod k¹. The limbs of the fork e¹ are slotted, and
when the block g' is slid in one direction or the other the slots engage with ribs on
a block, which is fixed to the spindle, as seen in Fig. 9, and the spindle is thereby
moved to open one or other of the inlet valves. A trip lever i is mounted to swivel
upon the block 1, and is provided with studs or fingers which pass between the
limbs of the fork e', so that when the said lever is turned upon its fulcrum in
either direction the said limbs are separated and the slots therein are disengaged
from the ribs on the said block. A plate m is fitted to slide in a frame towards
and from the end of the said trip lever, and is formed with two inclined faces with
which the lower end of the said lever or projections thereon come into contact as
the valve spindle is moved in one direction or the other, the result being that the
trip lever is caused to turn upon its fulcrum and the catch e¹ is disengaged from
the spindle which then moves back to cut off the steam. A lever m² is connected
by one end with the plate m, and by the other end with a rod h which is con-
nected with the governor, so that the said plate is moved towards and from the
trip lever as the speed of the engine varies, the steam being thereby cut-off earlier

page_text: The
or later. Any suitable arrangement having a corresponding effect may be substi-
tuted for the cylinder and contained spring n. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another
modification. In this example the slide valve is similar to that in Figs. 7 and 8,
but the cut-off valve is stationary whilst the main valve is admitting steam.
cut-off valve v is formed with two ports, through which steam has access to the
ports in the main valve. To the spindle of the valve vis fixed a block o', to
which is hinged a catch f, which engages with a fixed part p', so that the said valve
is held stationary at certain times. To the said catch is hinged a trip lever i,
which is formed with arms which bear upon the surface of the part p'. To the end
of the trip lever is jointed a rod ; which is connected with the governor rod h. A
plate m formed with inclined curved faces acts upon the trip lever to effect the
disengagement of the catch f, as in the example illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, but in
the present example the plate m moves to and fro, being attached to a cylinder n,
which is fixed to the spindle of the main valve. The cylinder n contains a spiral
spring which may be arranged in a similar manner to the spring in the example
last described, the spring acting upon a block which is fixed to the spindle of the
valve v.
As the cylinder n is slid forwards upon the last named spindle the spring
tends to move the said spindle in the same direction as that of the main valve, but
this movement is prevented by the locking catch f. When one of the inclines on
the plate m comes in contact with the rod j the said catch is disengaged in a similar
manner as in the example illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, and the spindle being now
free to move slides forwards and moves the valve v into position to cut off the
steam. On the return movement of the main spindle the catch f re-engages with
the fixed part p', and is disengaged by the action of the other of the inclines on the
plate m. Fig. 5 illustrates an arrangement adapted for application to engines
having inlet valves of the grid-iron form. In this example the slide valve is moved
to admit steam by means of a cam which acts upon a sliding carriage to which is
hinged a catch f. The said catch engages with a block which is fixed on the valve
spindle, and to the said block is hinged a bell crank trip lever i to which is jointed
a rod j which is connected with the governor rod, and is acted upon by a notched
face or plate m to release the catch f, as in the cases of examples previously described.
When the said catch is disengaged a spring within a cylinder n acting upon a piston
fixed to the valve spindle effects the rapid closure of the valve. Fig. 11 illustrates
a method of applying my Invention to engines having Cornish valves. In this
example s indicates the spindle through which the motion to open an inlet valve is
transmitted from the cam t¹. The said cam acts upon a sleeve u³, which slides upon
the said spindle. To the said spindle is hinged a catch f, on which is a projection
which rests upon a ledge v¹, which is fixed or formed upon the said sleeve. A trip
lever is hinged to the said catch, and to this lever is jointed a rod j which is
moved by the governor, as in examples previously described. When the end of the
said rod comes in contact with any part of the face m the trip lever draws the
projection on the catch off the ledge v', and the spindle, being no longer sustained,
falls, and the inlet valve closes. Fig. 12 illustrates the application of my Invention
to the controlling of the speed of an engine through the instrumentallity of a
throttle valve. A bar w¹ is caused to slide to and fro in bearings, and upon the
bar are fixed or formed two notched or stepped curved or inclined faces m. The
throttle valve is connected with one end of a lever x¹, and on the lower end is
mounted a double swivel catch y¹, which is connected by a rod z¹ with the governor.
As the speed of the engine varies the catch is caused to swivel on its axis, and one
end is thereby moved downwards, so that at the next movement of the bar w¹
towards that end the face m comes in contact with the catch, whereby the lever x²
is moved to close or open the throttle valve, as the case may be.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
given examples of methods whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would
have it understood that I claim,-
First. The arrangement for disengaging the spindles or connected parts of steam
inlet or cut-off valves from the actuating mechanism, the action of such arrangements

page_text: being controlled by the governor, substantially as set forth and indicated herein-
before, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangements whereby trip levers are caused to disengage the
valve spindles or connected parts at times when such levers or rods or parts connected
therewith come into contact with inclined or curved faces, plates, or parts, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. Communicating motion to the cut-off valves from the main valve spin-
dles in connection with tripping or disengaging apparatus, substantially as set
forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The trip lever i, the catch f, the rod j, and the part m, acting sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated with reference to the
examples illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Edge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1879.
Signed and sealed by the said
Jonathan Edge in the pre-
sence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
(Agent to the Patentee),
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JONATHAN EDGE. (L.S.)