Improvements in Automatic Safety Stop Devices for Steam or other Motive Fluid Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, in the United Kingdom, 22nd June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug.,
1898
Improvements in Automatic Safety Stop Devices for Steam or other
Motive Fluid Engines.
I, JAMES KNOX WRIGHT, of 157, West 103rd Street, City and State of New York,
United States of America, Mechanical 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 and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to automatic safety stop devices for steam or other motive-
fluid engines.
One object of my invention is to provide an automatic stop device for steam-
engines which will operate instantly to stop the engine either whenever the speed
of the engine is increased beyond the regulated speed or limit of safety or when
the governor becomes inoperative to further control the speed of the engine, so
that the steam will be instantly shut off whenever the governor balls move away
from the normal operating planes, causing the governor spindle to rise or fall
abnormally.
Further objects of my invention are to provide means for locking the device
against operation when desired and means for automatically releasing such mechan-
ism on starting the engine so that the stop device may always be in operative con-
dition when the engine is running.
My objects are further, to provide a safety stop device which will be simple
in construction and applicable to any engine controlled by a centrifugal ball or
equivalent governor and which shall be effective in the performance of its 'work
either upon the rise or fall of the governor spindle beyond its normal working
points.
With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and
combination of parts and details thereof, as hereinafter described with reference
to the accompanying drawings and hereinafter more particularly pointed out in
the claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of part of a Corliss engine, showing the governor
thereof with my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of a Wright engine, showing my invention
applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of my invention showing position
of parts when adjusted for automatically resetting the stop device for action upon
starting the engine.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when set for action
upon starting the engine.
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing position of the parts when set to prevent opera-
tion of the stop device when the engine is stopped under ordinary conditions.
Fig. 6 is a detail view showing position of parts when the stop device has
operated to shut off steam or other motive fluid.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modification.
Fig. 8 is a similar view of a further modification.
While I have shown my invention as applied to two types of engines, it will be
understood that my invention is not limited thereto, since it may be applied to
other forms of engines as well, and especially to those engines in which the
governor spindle or the governor side rod operates mechanism for controlling the
valves to cut off the motive fluid whether such valves be lifting, sliding, oscillat-
ing, or rotary valves.
It has been usually necessary in constructions heretofore employed for shutting
off motive fluid from the engine by safety stop devices to re-set the stop device
by hand, but by my invention I dispense entirely with this necessity by the
employment of automatically-operated means for this purpose, thus dispensing
entirely with the intervention of the engineer or operator and avoiding an element
of danger.
Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference characters relate to the
same or corresponding parts in all the views, my device is shown in Figure 1, as
applied to the governor-rod A of a Corliss engine, in which 132 indicates a portion
of the engine-frame or cross-head guide, from which extends a bracket C¹, support-
ing a governor-standard D', inclosing a governor rod or spindle A2, carrying the
balls F, the said spindle being operated by the governor-belt passing around
the pulley G, mounted on the operating shaft g, which transmits motion to the
spindle A in the usual manner. In this form of engine the governor side rod A
is usually in one piece, connected to a rock-shaft a, carrying arms b, operating
the steam lifting toes for the purpose of raising the steam-valves and releasing
the same to cut off the steam. By my invention I make this rod divided into two
parts or sections, the upper section A terminating in a shell or case L, to which
the said upper section is secured. This shell is preferably made with a perforated
screw-threaded cap a, to which the upper section is secured, and perforated cap a
through which the lower section A¹ freely passes, and the interior of said shell is
preferably provided with a bushing K, secured to the two caps by screw-threads,
said bushing forming a guide for the enlarged head a' of the lower section.
The lower part or section of the side rod A¹ preferably terminates in an enlarged
head or plunger a', against which a spring E, confined in the lower part of the
case or shell, acts and normally tends to raise the lower section of the said rod
and move the same independently of the upper section. The plunger-head is
provided with a groove or recess a³, and the shell or casing is provided with a
perforation, through which extends a spring actuated clutch-pin D, projecting
normally into the groove a³ of the plunger-head, said pin being normally pressed
into said groove by means of a springs, confined in a recess in a bracket d, forming
part of or secured to the shell or casing, as shown more fully in Figa 3 and 4.
The lower section of the side-rod is connected to the cut-off valve-actuating
mechanism, through the medium of the rock-shaft a and its arms b, and when the
two sections are locked together by the clutch-pin entering the groove or recess a³
the said two parts transmit the movements of the governor-spindle to the said
cut-off valve operating mechanism, under the ordinary conditions of working.
When, however, the governor balls become inoperative and fall below the normal
plane of operation or rise above the plane of operation for the maximum speed,
the clutch-pin is withdrawn from the governor rod by means of the three armed
hell-crank lever B, B1, B¹, fulcrumed on a bracket I, carried by the shell L and
moving with the governor rod. One of the upper arms B₁ of the said lever is
provided with a perforation or projection or other suitable device adapted to

page_text: engage a shoulder or nut c, carried by the stop-rod C, while the other upper arm B¹
extends in the opposite direction from the fulcrum of the lever and is normally
pressed upward by a suitable spring T, preferably seated in a socket t in the
bracket I, and is adapted to engage the stop rod ( whenever the balls rise above
their normal plane, thus causing the governor rod or spindle to rise, carrying with
it the bell-crank lever and bringing the arm 13 into contact with the stop C³,
whereby the said arm B is moved downwardly against the pressure of the
spring T and causing the withdrawal of the clutch-pin D, as before described.
The rod C is suitably supported from above or below according to the construc-
tion of engine, the said stop-rod in the present case being shown as adjustably
supported by screw-threaded attachment with a suitable bracket P from above or
provided with a nut or flanged washer 61, seated on the bushing R, supported in
the boss on the bracket P, as shown in the drawings. This stop rod is adjusted
in the desired position and normally held stationary in said position, so as to
cause the arm B¹ of the bell-crank lever to engage the stop shoulder or nut on
the lower end thereof when the governor balls fall below the normal working
plane, as before indicated, and the rod C is similarly adjusted, so as to operate the
lever when the governor rod rises. The rod C or C may have a ring N on its upper
end for the attachment of a chain or rope leading to any convenient point for hand
operation.
Various changes in the location and arrangement of the stop may be made with-
out departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, instead of permitting
the rod to play loosely through the arm B', as shown in Fig. 3, the said rod may
be made fast to the said arm by suitable nuts b¹ Fig. 7, so that when the governor
rod moves up and down the stop-rod similarly moves, and the nut or washer 611
on the top of the rod coming in contact with the bushing R as the rod falls below
its normal position of working will operate the levers B, B1, B¹¹, so as to withdraw
the clutch-pin. This form may be advantageously used in case of long range of
governor when the end of stop rod might otherwise interfere with the clutch
mechanism when the governor spindle is at its highest point.
In Fig. 8 I have shown a further modified form which it is desirable to use on
engines when the cut-off mechanism requires more power than ordinarily required,
thereby necessitating the employment of a very stiff operating spring for the
clutch mechanism. In such cases the clutch-pin requires more force to move it for
liberating the two sections, and if this be required of the governor-spindle while
it is rising an increased speed of governor, and hence of the engine, is necessary
before sufficient force is exerted to liberate the sections of the rod. This increase
is, however, obviated by making the stop in the form of a suitable weight C³,
supported in place on a bracket P¹ by a catch q, which is adapted to be engaged
by the tappet arm z on the upper section A of the governor rod as the latter rises,
thereby permitting the weight to fall just before the arm 13" reaches it, the impact
of the weight against said arm being sufficient to instantly effect the proper move-
ment of the lever-arm to release the clutchpin.
The lower arm B of the bell crank lever is connected with the clutch pin D,
so that when the governor rod moves away from the position of normal working
the bell crank lever, coming in contact with the stop c or C2, will be moved,
thereby withdrawing the pin from the groove in the plunger-head, thus releasing
the lower section of the side rod from the shell or casing and permitting the lower
section of the side rod to move upward with respect to the upper section, thereby
moving the cut-off mechanism so as to place the steam lifting-toes out of action,
thus preventing the steam valves from movement and instantly shutting off the
supply of steam.
It will be understood that when the stop device has operated to cut off the
steam and the sections of the rod or spindle have become separated these sections
may be locked together again by moving the lower section so as to compress the
spring E and bring the groove or recess a³ in alignment with the clutchpin D,
which will enter said groove or recess under pressure of the spring s.

page_text: It will be observed that I have described a bell crank lever B B₁ B¹¹ as connected
to the pin D, and such construction may be made directly with the pin, as will
be readily understood; but in order to avoid the annoyance of having to reset
the device every time the engine is stopped under ordinary running conditions I
make the connections between the bell-crank lever and the clutch pin separable
and controlled by an automatic catch in such manner that the connection between
the bell-crank lever and the pin may be disengaged or released, so that the move-
ment of said lever for stopping the engine will be effected without moving the
pin, thus preventing the separation of the two sections of the governor side rod
or spindle, and to insure the resetting of the device for emergencies, irrespective
of the attention of the operator, I provide means that will automatically reset the
device immediately upon the starting of the engine, thus guarding against the
danger due to carelessness in omitting to set the device for operation. With this
object in view I preferably connect the lower arm of the bell crank lever with a
sleeve S, slidably mounted upon the pin D, the said arm of the bell-crank lever
being preferably provided at its lower end with a yoke y, pivotally connected to
the sleeve. Mounted in a bracket I¹ on the sleeve is a locking pin F, provided
with a suitable handle, the said pin being yieldingly connected to the said sleeve
by a suitable spring J, acting against a collar j on the pin, which spring normally
tends to push the locking-pin toward the sleeve, through which said pin projects
into contact with the clutch-pin 1). The clutch-pin itself is provided with a
recess r, into which recess the locking-pin F projects for the purpose of connecting
the sliding sleeve with the pin D. In this position the device is in its operative
condition, so that any upward movement of the bell crank lever will cause the
pin to be retracted from the groove in the lower section of the governor-rod against
the
pressure of the spring s.
Pivotally supported on the bracket of the shell or casing L is a spring-actuated
catch H, which is adapted to engage a notch in the end of a horizontal projection f
on the locking-pin F, toward which the said catch is pressed by a spring j¹ when
the latter is drawn out of engagement with the recess r, thus holding the locking-
pin F free from the pin D and releasing the sliding sleeve from said pin, so that
if the engine is stopped by the engineer under ordinary running conditions the
governor balls fall naturally to their lowest point and cause the upper arm of
the bell-crank lever to come in contact with the stop, and the bell-crank lever will
be moved, thereby sliding the sleeve S upon the pin D away from the case or shell
without disturbing the clutch-pin D, and at the same time the locking pin F will
When the engine
be moved away from and out of engagement with the catch H.
is started again, the balls will rise, moving the side rod upward, and thereby
moving the bell crank-lever out of contact with the stop, whereupon the spring 1,
mounted on the bracket carrying the bell-crank lever and engaging the upper
arm of said lever, will move said arm downward, causing the sliding sleeve S to be
moved toward the shell or casing, carrying with it the locking-pin F until it again
engages the recess r in the locking pin D under the action of the spring J, thus
setting the device for operation. It will be observed that the upper arm of the
bell-crank lever is provided with a handle extension, so that the bell-crank lever
may be instantly operated by a touch of the handle when it is desired to operate
the device at the engine.
In the modification Fig. 7 I have shown a spring E¹ above the lower governor
rod section, the purpose of which is to cause the lower rod section to fall farther
down, when the device operates, than usual, thus rendering this form specially
applicable to these engines employing special cams for releasing the valve
mechanism.
I wish it understood that I claim herein the broad features of my invention,
consisting of a governor rod or spindle made in two sections, with means for
connecting the two sections together and means for releasing said sections when
the governor moves away from the normal planes of action, either by rising or

page_text: falling governors, and, further, I claim herein the specific application of this
broad feature to a rising governor rod, whereby the stop device is operated to shut
off the motive fluid when the speed of the engine is increased beyond the limit
of safety, and I also claim, broadly, herein the mechanism for preventing the
operation of the device when desired, with the mechanism for automatically re-
setting the stop device upon starting the engine, as set forth in the claims following
this description.
"
In this specification and in the claims appended by the term "movement away
from the normal planes of action and operation mean to include those cases,
first, when the governor balls become inoperative and fall below the point where
they are effective to control the speed, and, second, when the governor balls owing
to increased speed approaching to or beyond the regulated limit of safety, rise
above their normal point for maximum speed, no matter what may be the cause.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is:-
First. In an automatic safety device, the combination with the governor, of a
rod or spindle made in two sections and independently movable with respect to
each other, one of which sections is connected with the governor and the other
with the valve-operating mechanism, means for connecting the two sections
together and mechanism operated by the movement of the governor balls away
from the normal plane to release said connecting means, thereby separating the two
sections of the spindle or rod, substantially as described.
Second. In an automatic safety device, the combination with the governor, of a
rod or spindle made in two sections and independently movable with respect to
each other, one of which sections is connected with the governor and the other
with the valve-operating mechanism, means for connecting the two sections
together, and mechanism operated by the rising of the governor balls above the
normal plane of operation for maximum speed to release said connecting means,
thereby separating the two sections of the spindle or rod, substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a divided governor rod, a shell or casing carried
by the upper section thereof, the lower section freely moving within said shell,
a clutch-pin normally locking the two sections together, a stop, a connection
between said stop and clutch-pin for retracting the pin when the governor balls
rise above the normal plane of operation for the maximum speed, and separating
the two sections of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of a divided governor rod, the upper section provided
with a shell, and a lower section having an enlarged head working in said shell
and provided with a recess or groove therein, a pin slidably mounted on the shell
and normally in engagement with the said recess or groove thereby locking the
two sections together, a lever fulcrumed on the shell and connected to the pin,
a stop adapted to engage one arm of the lever to operate the same and withdraw
the pin when the governor rises above the normal plane of operation for the
maximum speed, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the governor rod or spindle, having an upper and
a lower section movable in respect to each other, a clutch device normally locking
the two sections together, means for causing the clutch device to release the
sections when the governor-balls move away from the normal planes of operation,
and means for preventing the operation of said clutch device as the engine is
stopped when desired.
Sixth. The combination with a governor rod or spindle, having an upper and a
lower section movable in respect to each other, means for causing said clutch
device to release the sections when the governor balls move away from the normal
planes of operation, and means for preventing the operation of said clutch device
upon stopping the engine under ordinary conditions, and means for automatically
resetting the device for emergencies, upon starting the engine.

page_text: Seventh. The combination with a divided governor-rod consisting of an upper
section having a shell or casing, a lower section working freely therein, a spring
mounted in the shell and casing and connected with the lower section and nor-
mally tending to separate the sections, a clutch for locking the two sections
together, a lever having one arm adapted to be connected to said pin, a stop adapted
to engage the other arm of said lever when the governor balls move away from
the normal planes of operation, and means for separably connecting the lever and
clutch-pin so that they may be caused to move together or the pin allowed to
remain stationary as the lever is moved.
Eighth. The combination with a divided governor rod or spindle consisting of
an upper section and a lower section, a pin for connecting the two together, two
stops, and connections between said stops and pin for operating the same, when
the governor balls move away from the normal planes of operation, and means
for rendering said connections inoperative when desired to stop the engine under
ordinary running conditions.
Ninth. The combination with a divided governor rod or spindle consisting of
an upper section and a lower section, a pin for connecting the two together, two
stops and connections between said stops and pin for operating the same, when
the governor balls move away from the normal plane of operation, means for
rendering said connections inoperative when desired to stop the engine under
ordinary conditions, and means for automatically resetting the device upon the
starting of the engine.
Tenth. The combination with the governor, and the valve-operating mechanism
of the steam engine, connections between said governor and valve mechanism, of
mechanism for releasing said connections when the governor balls move away
from the normal planes of operation, and locking devices interposed between said
releasing mechanism and valve connections, whereby said connections may be
locked against release, when it is desired to stop the engine under normal con-
ditions.
Eleventh. The combination with the governor and the valve operating mechan-
ism of a steam engine, connections between said governor and valve mechanism,
of mechanism for releasing said connections when the governor balls move away
from the normal planes of operation, a locking device interposed between the
releasing mechanism and valve connections, and means for automatically releasing
said locking device so as to set the releasing mechanism for action upon the
starting of the engine.
Twelfth. In an automatic stop device for engines, the combination with the
governor, of a divided rod consisting of two sections, one section being connected
to the governor and the other section to the valve operating mechanism of the
engine, a clutch-pin for locking the sections together, a sleeve slidably mounted
on said pin, a lever having an arm connected to said sleeve, a stop with which said
arm is adapted to engage, a locking-pin for locking the sleeve and clutch-pin
together, and a catch adapted to engage and hold said pin out of engagement with
the clutch-pin, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. In an automatic safety stop device for engines, the combination
with the governor, of a rod consisting of two sections, one of said sections being
connected with the governor and the other to the valve mechanism, a clutch-pin
for locking the two sections together, a sleeve slidably mounted on said clutch-pin,
a lever having an arm connected to said sleeve, a stop with which said arm is
adapted to engage, a locking pin for locking the sleeve and clutch-pin together,
a catch for holding said locking-pin out of engagement with the clutch-pin, and
means for causing the locking-pin to engage the clutch-pin when the engine is
started, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. In an automatic safety stop device for engines, the combination
with the governor, of a rod consisting of two sections, one of said sections being
connected with the governor and the other with the valve mechanism, a clutch-pin
for locking the two sections together, a sleeve slidably mounted on said clutch-

page_text: pin, a lever connected to said sleeve, a spring normally pressing one arm of said
lever upward, thereby normally locking the two sections of the rod together, and
a stop adapted to engage said arm when the governor balls rise above the plane of
maximum speed, and thereby cause the clutch pin to release the two sections,
substantially as described.
Fifteenth. In an automatic safety stop device for engines, the combination with
the governor, of a rod consisting of two sections, one of said sections being con-
nected with the governor and the other with the valve mechanism, a clutch-pin
for locking the two sections together, a sleeve slidably mounted on said pin, a
lever having one arm connected with said pin, a spring normally engaging the
other arm of said lever and normally causing the clutch-pin to lock the two sections
of the rod together, a stop-weight located above said spring-actuated arm, and
means for releasing said weight as the rod rises above its normal position, whereby
the weight falls upon said arm, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1898.