An Improved Method and Means of and for Automatically Adjusting the Working Brasses or Bearings of Connecting Rods, and all other Reciprocating Motions and Parts subject to the same, of Motive Power Engines and other Machinery.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of and for Automatically Adjusting
the Working Brasses or Bearings of Connecting Rods, and all
other Reciprocating Motions and Parts subject to the same, of
Motive Power Engines and other Machinery.
I, JOHN HANDSLEY DALES, of 45 Lofthouse Place, Leeds, in the County of
York, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
:-
My improvements in adjustments to the wear of bearing brasses and bearings,
are chiefly intended for application to steam and other motive power engines,
but they are also applicable to other machinery where automatic adjustments are
required.
My invention consists in the application of differential pawls, for the purpose
of turning ratchet wheels, worms, screws or acting upon slides wedges or other
suitable means, by the relative motion of parts such motion being caused or
effected by slackness or play between bearing surfaces.
In carrying out my invention in the case of connecting rods, by preference I
use two rods in place of one as ordinarily, one of the said rods being arranged
so as to pull on a crank neck or piu or bearing, and the second rod to thrust
on the same by separate eyes at one end of the said rods, while the other ends
of the rods engage, by separate eyes, with separate pins or bearings mounted on
the separate parts of a compound slide or crosshead, in such a manner, that by
the means of adjustment as aforesaid, the crosshead pins may be moved to take
up any slackness caused by wear of the bearing surfaces. One of the said
crosshead pins is by preference fixed to the crosshead slipper, and the slipper
is fixed to the part of the engine or machine, to which, or from which, motion
is to be imparted, in the performance of the functions of the connecting rods.
The second crosshead pin is mounted on a slide on the crosshead, and is capable
of a relative motion on and to the same.
The differential pawl or its equivalent, is mounted on one of the pin slides or
brackets, and a rachet wheel, slide or its equivalent is mounted on the other
pin, slide or bracket, in such a manner, that when any slackness of the bearings
occurs, a slight reciprocating motion of the differential-pawls-and-the-ratchet.
wheel, or of both is produced, which causes the pawls to act upon the ratchet
wheel and the ratchet wheel to turn and act by preference upon, worms worm
nuts and screws, so as to close or separate parts of the two portions of the
crosshead, in such a manner that wear or slackness of the bearing surface is
reduced to a distance for which the proportions of the pawls and ratchet wheel or
slide teeth are constructed, thus preventing the bearings from becoming too light
or too slack.
Any number of pawls may constitute the differential pawl, and the extreme
difference in the length of the pawls is made about the same distance as the space
of one tooth. Thus say ten pawls may constitute a differential pawl, and the
difference in the length of the pawls may be about one tenth of the space of one
tooth of the ratchet wheel or slide, and a relative motion between the said
pin, slides or brackets, equal to one tenth of the space of one tooth aforesaid,
will move the ratchet wheel and bring about the adjusting action of the
arrangements.

page_text: Or in the case of adjusting the bearings of crank shaft necks, the differential
pawl may be mounted on a slide, which is sprung against the shaft or collar
of the same, and thus impart any motion of the same to the adjusting arrange-
ments aforesaid; which are caused to act upon the brasses of the neck or
bearing.
Or in the case of single connecting rods the adjustment of the brasses may be
brought about by any relative motion caused by wear, which may take place
between the rod end, cap, or the bearing brasses, and the body of the rod, or
between a crank or pin and the body of the rod.
The power or motion of the working parts aforesaid may be transmitted either
from a crank or pin to the crosshead aforesaid, or it may be transmitted from the
crosshead to the crank or pin as the work may require, and the adjusting parts may
be worms, worm wheels, screws, wedges, levers or the like to suit the convenience
of the general structure of the machinery to which they are applied.
Dated 8th April 1893
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of and for Automatically Adjusting
the Working Brasses or Bearings of Connecting Rods, and all
other Reciprocating Motions and Parts subject to the same, of
Motive Power Engines and other Machinery.
JOHN HANDSLEY DALES of 45 Lofthouse Place, Leeds in the County of York
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My improvements in adjustments to the wear of bearing brasses and bearings
are chiefly intended for application to steam and other motive power engines, but
they are also applicable to other machinery where automatic adjustments are
required.
My improvements consist in automatically taking up or adjusting slack bearings,
by a relative motion of parts, such motion being caused or due to worn bearing
surfaces and the consequent play thereof and also of the application of differential,
multiplied motion, or silent pawls for actuating ratchet wheels, screw gear,
wedges, slides or other suitable means for producing the said automatic
adjustment.
My invention may be carried into effect by various modifications of the
principles of the same, some of which are shewn by the drawings on Sheets 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 and 7.
Sheet 1 Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent an underside view of a compound differential
spring pawl, its application to a ratchet wheel in side elevation and an underside
view of a differential spring stop pawl respectively, forming a definition of the term
differential pawl.
The compound differential pawl in this case is composed of two sets of leaves (a)
and (b), the leaves of each set being indicated by (a') (a) (a¹) (a¹) (a¹) and
by (b) (6) (6) (6¹) (6¹) respectively. The set (a) bears on half the space of one
tooth (a) whilst the set (b) bears on the complementary half of another tooth (62),
the two sets in effect having the same result in performing their functions, as a
single set of the same total number of leaves acting only on the space of one and
the same tooth. Obviously any number of sets of leaves acting upon corresponding
portions of teeth of a ratchet wheel, may be used for the purposes of the invention,
according to the requirements of strength and convenience.
The leaves of the differential pawls, are of different lengths, which progress by

page_text: say a one hundredth of an inch which may be said to be a minimum allowance of
slack in a bearing, and in the drawing referred to, the pitch of the ratchet wheel
teeth, corresponding, is equal to about ten times the progressive difference of the
lengths of the said leaves, so that when performing their functions, a relative to
and fro motion of the pawl, with regard to the ratchet wheel, equal to more thai:
the said progressive difference of length, causes the leaves of the pawl to fall
sucessively into gear with the working faces of the ratchet teeth, and brings into
action the adjusting motions or movements referred to. The relative motion
referred to is produced by the momentum or inertia of the adjusting brass and
connections or by a spring acting upon the same and by the working force of the
engine or machine, and through a distance equal to the slack of the bearing
parts.
The object of using a large number of leaves in the compound differential pawls,
is to provide for the use of a ratchet wheel of coarser pitch and greater strength
of tooth, than would be available, if a single pawl on a single tooth were used for
the purposes of the invention.
The object of using compound differential pawls, that is, more than one set of
leaves constituting one pawl action, is to provide for the use of any given number
of broader leaves of greater strength on any given breadth of ratchet wheel tooth,
than would be available if only one set of leaves of the same number of leaves
were used.
Sheet 2, Fig. 4 represents a plan of part of a connecting rod end in which a
multiplied motion lever (a) is shewn in connection with a pressure pin (6) from a
bearing brass (3). The motion lever (a) carries a single or differential pawl (10)
acting upon a ratchet wheel (9) which actuates adjusting arrangements according
to the invention. Stop pawl or pawls are shewn by 11.
.
Sheet 2 Fig. 5 represents a plan of a connecting rod end fitted with a silent
pawl arrangement according to and for the purposes of the invention, in which the
adjusting brass is shewn by (3) a grip wheel by (9) fixed on the top of a spindle (5)
which may be the shank of an adjusting screw or connection to the same. The
silent pawl or gripper (10) in performing its functions turns the grip wheel (9). An
equivalent to the stop pawls aforesaid is shewn in the spring or other brake (11) of
the grip wheel.
Sheet 2 Figs. 6, 7, 8 are a vertical section plan in section and vertical end
section of a connecting rod end fitted with automatic adjustments according to the
invention, in which differential pawls (10) (10) (10) (10) are shewn to act directly
ou racks (9') (9) which form part of or are fixed on the connecting rod (12). This
arrangement acts without the intervention of screws wedges or other gear, and the
pawls may be in any number of sets of leaves for strength and bearing.
Sheet 3 Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 shew a vertical section, a horizontal section, a
side elevation and a plan respectively of a connecting rod fitted with automatic
adjustments according to the invention.
In all the figures the same letters refer to the same parts.
The crown brasses (1) (1) are similarly fixed to the straps (2) (2) of the rod ends,
whilst both the back brasses (3) (3) are fitted to slide in the said straps. Adjusting
wedges or inclines (4) (4) are made to bear on the inclined faces of the back brasses and
the said wedges are adjusted by screws (5) (5). These adjusting screws are moved in
performing their functions by gear wheels (6) (6) and (7) (7) which are fixed on
their respective spindles (5) (5) and (8) (8). Ratchet wheels (9) (9) are fixed
to (8) (8) as shewn. Figure 10 at (10) (10) and (11) (11) respectively indicate the
compound differential adjusting pawls and stop pawls. The former are shewn fixed
to a part of the back brasses (3) (3) whilst the latter are fixed onto the body of
the connecting rod (12) (12). Between the working faces of the adjusting wedges
and the backs of the back brasses, springs (13) (13) (13) are inserted in such a
manner that when the working pressure is relieved from the said back brasses the said
springs force the back brasses against the bearing pins or necks and produce by
reason of any slackness of the bearing a withdrawal motion of the compound

page_text: differential adjusting pawls whilst the effect of the working pressure at the return
stroke is to force the back brasses onto the working faces of the adjusting wedges
and in this way producing a reciprocating motion of the differential adjusting
pawls, with the consequent effect of turning the ratchet wheels and thus actuating
the adjusting parts aforesaid. The stop pawls (11) (11) prevent any return motion 5
of the ratchet wheel which might be caused by the friction or pressure of the
differential adjusting pawls (10) (10).
Sheet 4 Figures 13, 14 and 15 shew the two ends of an eccentric rod, respectively
in part vertical section, horizontal section and plan fitted with automatic
adjustments according to the invention the reference figures indicating the same
parts as in Sheet 3 Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Sheet 4 Figures 16, 17, and 18 shew a steam or other engine crosshead which is
fitted with automatic adjustments according to the invention, and is suitable to
receive the gudgeon pin of a forked end of a connecting rod. The reference
figures refer to the same parts in the adjustments as shewn in Sheet 3
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12. The piston rod socket is shewn by (a) and the pin for
attaching the crosshead to a slipper by (b) the slipper being indicated by (c).
Sheet 4 Figures 19 and 20 shew an arrangement in vertical section and plan
respectively of automatic adjusting parts according to the invention, in which the
compound differential adjusting pawls act on a ratchet wheel which is fixed
directly on the end of the adjusting screw of the wedge, without the intervention of
wheel gear. The same reference figures indicate the same adjusting parts as in
Sheet 3 Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Sheet 4 Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 shew an arrangement of connecting rod end,
in side elevation, end elevation and horizontal section, and enlarged plan of
automatic adjusting parts all according to the invention, but applied to the cap and
end brass of a connecting rod eye, in which the reciprocating movement of the
differential adjusting pawl is obtained by a pin and slide (a) which passes through the
said rod end cap (6) and bears onto the neck or journal of the bearing or onto
the front bearing brass as the case may be. In this arrangement the pin or
slide (a) carries the differential adjusting pawl (10), the slide end being pressed
onto the neck or journal or brass by a spring (c) which is fixed at each end to the
cap bolts (d) (d) which are prevented from turning round by suitable keys. The
cap bolt nuts (e) (e) are cut on the periphery to form worm wheels into which a
worm (f) (f¹) is geared at each end of a vertical spindle (f). The vertical
spindle (f) carries a ratchet wheel (g) which is actuated by the differential
adjusting pawls (10).
The reciprocating motion required for the differential adjusting pawl is caused
by the to and fro motion of the neck or journal in the rod eye.
The stop pawls are shewn by (11).
The pulsatory motion may also be obtained by a movement of the cap due to
worn bearing surfaces.
Sheet 4 Figures 25, 26 and 27 shew a vertical section, plan and horizontal section
respectively of a connecting rod end fitted with automatic adjustments according
to the invention, but the motion of the back brass due to the slack bearing is
multiplied by a lever (1). The lever (1) is shewn to reciprocate a slide (m) which
is maintained in contact with the said lever by springs (n). The reference
figures on the other adjusting parts are the same as in Sheet 4 Figs. 19 and 20.
Sheet 5, Figures 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 represent respectively a side elevation,
part vertical section, cross sections, plan and part plan in section of a connecting
rod fitted with automatic adjustments according to the invention. In these figures
one set of adjusting parts is made to take up the inner or back brasses (3) (3) of
both ends of the rod, the adjustments by preference being placed near the small or
gudgeon eye of the rod and the adjusting action being transmitted to the big end
brass of the rod by a pressure rod (a) (a) which passes down a hole in the centre
of the connecting rod (12). The arrangements consist of a wedge (4) having
screwed shank (5) on which a ratchet wheel nut (9) is mounted to draw up the

page_text: wedge in performing its functions. The ratchet wheel nut is revolved by two sea
of differential pawls (10) and (11) both of which in turn actuate the ratchet wheel
nut and act as stop pawls for each other. The momentum of the outer and inner
rods in their reciprocating action supplies the motion for the adjustment, the said
motion being allowed by any slackness of the bearings.
In this arrangement both differential pawls (10) and (11) are mounted on the
body of the outer rod (12). The wedge acts upon dies (3') (3") which are fixed.
to pressure rods or pieces (a) and (6) which bear respectively on the big and small
end back brasses aforesaid. The wedge (4) is firmly maintained in position by a
a spring (13) which is contained in a loop or cage (32) which is in the drawing
formed on the big end die (3¹¹).
Sheet (5) Figures 33 and 34 represent an eccentric rod fitted with automatic
adjustments according to the invention and similar in general arrangement to those
in the preceding figures in Sheet 5, excepting that the adjusting parts are placed by
preference near the large end of the rod and the spring cage (3) is shewn fixed to
pressure die (31).
The reference letters and figures indicate the same parts as in Figures 28, 29, 30, 31
and 32.
Sheet 6 Figures 35 and 36 represent a side elevation part in section, and a plan
also part in section, of a double connecting rod (a) and (b), in which arrangement
no adjusting parts are fitted to the rods but at the gudgeon or small ends the rods
are provided with separate bearings, each of which is mounted upon a separate
slide, one of which is attached to, and the other slides on the crosshead or slipper
in such a manner that by altering the positions of the said bearing slides with
regard to each other by means of the automatic adjustments according to the
invention any wear or slack in the eyes of the connecting rods or their bearings,
may in effect be taken up. The rods are attached to the crosshead in such a
on the
manner that one rod thrusts on the crank neck whilst the second rod pulls
same, and the adjustments are made so as to maintain contact of one side only of
each rod eye, with its respective bearing surface. The crank neck of an engine is
shewn by (c) whilst the thrusting rod is (a) the pulling rod being indicated by (b).
The thrusting rod pin and slide is shewn by (a') and the pulling rod pin and slide
by (6) this slide in the drawing is cottered to a piston rod (62). The end of the
piston rod in this case is shewn at (68) to be screwed for a worm wheel bearing
nut (6) which is turned by a worm and spindle (5) on which is keyed or fixed a
ratchet wheel (9). A. differential adjusting pawl and stop pawl are shewn by (10)
and (11) both being mounted on the pulling slide (61) of the crosshead. The worm
and spindle (5) are mounted in the slide (a¹). In the action of the arrangement.
any slackness of the bearing parts of the eyes of the rods causes a relative motion
of the two bearing slides due to the reciprocating motion of the engine piston and
parts, and this motion being imparted to the ratchet pawl and wheel, the worm and
worm nut are turned to take up the said slackness to within the distance of the
progressive difference of length of the differential pawl leaves the worm nut bearing
against the slide (a).
Sheet 6 Figures 37 and 38 shew a part vertical section and a part horizontal
section of an arrangement of automatic adjustments according to the invention
applied to a three part connecting rod, the two outer rods (b), pulling on the crank
neck (c) whilst the centre rod (a) thrusts on the same. The adjustinent of wear
on the eyes and knuckle end (a¹) of the rods, is brought about by advancing the
knuckle end bearing slide (a) on the crosshead. The adjusting parts are similar
to those shewn on Figures 35 and 36 and the reference figures and letters apply to
similar parts.
Sheet 6. Figures 39, 40 and 41 shew a vertical section through A, B, end
elevation, and vertical section through C, D, respectively of a main bearing fitted
with automatic adjustments according to the invention. Adjusting screws (d) (d')
bear on adjusting brass (3) and the adjusting screws are turned in performing their
functions by means of their worm wheel heads (e) (e') and worms (ƒ) (ƒ¹) which

page_text: are formed on a spindle which also carries a ratchet wheel (g) which actuated
by the differential pawl (10) which obtains its motion from the slide (a) on which
it is fixed and which in turn is pulsated by the journal on which it is caused to bear
by spring (2) such pulsation or motion being due to any slackness of the bearing.
It is obvious that a motion of the adjusting brass due to slackness of bearing parts
may be utilized for the purposes of the adjustment according to the invention.
Sheet 7. Figures 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, represent a side elevation, plan in part
section, and vertical section of the end of a connecting rod, also a side elevation,
and end elevation of a ratchet wheel, respectively, arranged according to the
invention, and in which a differential action of the driving pawls (10), is brought
about by the use of diagonal or skew teeth (91) on the ratchet wheel (9) and by
making the pawl leaves of equal length or practically so, so that they will act
successively upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel in performing their functions.
The stop pawls shewn in previous sheets are not used in this arrangement, but
any return of the ratchet wheel from the working stroke of the driving pawls by
reason of the pressure and friction of the same, is prevented by rendering the
turning of the ratchet wheel sufficiently stiff, by spring pressure or otherwise, to
overcome the said friction of the driving pawls and thus to ensure the maintenance
of the position of the ratchet wheel in performing its functions as it is placed by the
driving action of the driving pawls.
Sheet 7. Fig. 42 shews a spring (s) threaded onto the ratchet wheel spindle (8)
in such a manner as to press the end face (92) of the ratchet wheel against the
cheek of the gap in which it it is placed and so produce the necessary friction or
stiffness in turning of the ratchet wheel to overcome any tendency of the same to
return from the position in which it is placed by the driving action of the pawls.
The same letters and figures refer to same parts in Sheet 7 as in Sheet 3.
In any case of engine practice in which a continuous automatic adjustment is
for any special reason undesirable, an intermittent adjustment may be brought
about, by using any of the before mentioned modifications of the invention, in
connection with a star wheel or any similar device, which may be operated by a
moveable stop or piece, placed in position by hand in the course or run of such star
wheel, in such manner that the star wheel or otherwise may be rotated for the
purposes of adjustment according to the invention.
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 :-
First. The automatic adjustment of the working brasses or equivalents of
engine or machine bearings, or of journals studs, pins or otherwise, or of other
working surfaces of engines or machines, by a relative motion of parts which is
caused by or is the result of clearance or play between such working surfaces,
substantially as shewn and described.
Second. The automatic adjustment of the working surfaces or bearings of engines
or machines by any relative motion of parts, which is caused by or is the result of
the combined action of the momentum or inertia of such parts and any play or
clearance between the bearing surfaces of the same, in performing their functions
substantially as shewn and described.
Third. The automatic adjustment of the working surfaces or bearings of engines
or machines, by any relative motion of parts, which is caused by or is the result
of spring or stored power or working power or both acting by reason of clearance
or play of bearing surfaces upon such parts in performing their functions
substantially as shewn and described.
Fourth. The employment of differential compound pawls and ratchet wheels
multiplied motion pawls and ratchet wheels, silent pawls and friction wheels or
gear, for the utilization of the relative motion of parts aforesaid, for the purposes
named substantially as shewn and described.
Fifth. The parts and combinations of parts and the methods used for the

page_text: purposes named, or of any modifications or combinations of the same substantially
as shewn and described.
Sixth. The intermittent automatic adjustment of bearings by the means and
methods aforesaid combined with stop or catch arrangements, placed into gear by
hand and employed occasionally.
Dated January 5th 1001
JOHN HANDSLEY DALES.