Improved Means for Shutting Off the Supply of Fluid to Fluid-pressure Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Shutting Off the Supply of Fluid to Fluid-pressure
Engines.
We, LEVI DA ROZIR, Mechanic, of 80, Crystal Avenue, Cambridge, Middlesex
County, FRANK WINCHESTER ALDRICH, 12, Day Street, Fitchburg, Worcester
County, Druggist, LOUIS PROXEDE COTE, Merchant, of 10, West Street, Somer-
ville, Middlesex County, and HENRY ALFRED HATCH, of 18, Day Street, Fitchburg,
Worcester County, Banker, all of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 and by the following
statement:-
-
Our invention relates to a safety appliance attachable to a stationary steam-
engine, whereby steam may be instantly shut off and the engine stopped from any
room of the building in which it is located, in the event of accident. Heretofore
great difficulty has been experienced in communicating with the engineer in order
to stop the engine in time to save the life of persons who might be caught by the
shafting in remote portions of the building. Other reasons also frequently arise
which render it desirable to immediately stop the engine.
Our invention is designed to obviate these objections and it comprises the
improvements hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the ordinary shut-off valve in the steam
supply pipe of a stationary steam-engine, provided with our improved automatic
shut-off mechanism;
Figure 2 is a plan of the same;
Figure 3 a vertical section on line 3-, Figure 1, and
Figure 4 a cross section, enlarged, on line 4—4, Figure 2.
A represents the throttle-valve of a steam-engine of ordinary and well-known
construction; B, the steam inlet pipe from the boiler, and C, the outlet from the
valve to the engine, these parts being all of the ordinary form and construction.
The stem f, of the valve is provided with the usual hand-wheel, g, and on said
stem in our improvement is mounted a steam tight box, 1).
The inlet pipe, C, leading to the engine we tap by a branch, d, in which a
valve, is incorporated. This branch, d, leads tangentially into the box, D),
at, i, (see Figure 3). From the underside of said box an exhaust, j, leads. On
the stem, k, of the valve h, there is a weighted arm, m, which normally operates
to hold said valve closed and exclude steam from the box, D. To this arm, m,
is connected a wire, p, leading to various parts of the building in which the engine
is located. Fast on the stem, f, of the main valve, A, within the box, D, there
is a fan-wheel, H, provided with tangential blades q, r, of different lengths, (see
Figure 3), in such position that a jet of steam from the branch, d will impinge
against said blades and rotate said wheel and the stem, f, thus closing the main
valve, A.
In use the hand-wheel, g, may be operated to open and close the main valve in
the usual manner. When it is desired to stop the engine from any cause without

page_text: going to the engine-room, by pulling the cord, p, from any portion of the building
the arm, mn, can be elevated to open the valve, h. Steam is thus admitted to
branch, d, from inlet, C, and at once expands into box, D, in a jet, which striking
the blades, r, q, rotates the wheel, H. This operates the valve stem, f, to which
it is fast and closes the main valve, thus shutting off the steam from the boiler
in a manner which will be readily understood.
It will be seen that, by the use of the device described, the ordinary manipu
lation of the throttle-valve wheel is in no manner interfered with as would
be the case were an outside mechanism belted thereto. We are aware that
such mechanism has been used wherein steam is taken from another
source, but in such devices not only is the ordinary use of the throttle greatly
hindered, but, steam being applied to an engine incorporated in a separate steam
supply, the full pressure of such steam is maintained after the valve is shut or
closed.
In our device these objections are obviated; the fan-wheel being mounted
directly on the throttle-valve stem offers no resistance to the ordinary use of said
stem. And by taking steam from the engine side of said throttle, or direct from
the engine supply, we obtain its full force to at once impart sufficient impetus
to the fan-wheel to close the throttle. Such steam is, moreover, immediately
exhausted from casing, D), as soon as its work is done; and, as the throttle is thus
instantly closed by the action of steam direct from the inlet of the engine and said
steam is instantly shut off from the fan wheel as the throttle closes, there is no
unnecessary escape of steam nor any "bleeding" of the casing I), essential before
starting up again, or operating the throttle by hand to reopen it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: --
Ist. In a steam-engine, a throttle-valve provided with a fan-wheel on its stem
in combination with a casing enclosing said wheel, an exhaust for said casing, a
pipe tapping the steam supply-pipe of said engine, and opening into said a
casing, a valve in said first pipe and devices for operating said valve, whereby
steam-pressure from the engine-supply may be delivered direct to said wheel and
said pressure shut off by the consequent closing of said throttle.
2nd. The throttle-valve and its stem in combination with the valve-inlet, B,
and valve-outlet, C, the fan-wheel, H, fast on said stem, the steam box, D), enclos- 3
ing said wheel and stem, the branch pipe, d, connecting said outlet, C, between
the engine and throttle with said box, the valve in said branch, devices for
operating said valve, and an exhaust in said, box, all arranged and operating
substantially as specified.
T
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.