IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC REGULATORS FOR MARINE ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC REGULATORS FOR MARINE ENGINES."
A communication from abroad by James Sangster and William Shelton
Grosvenor, both of Buffalo, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 24th March 1876, and dated the 25th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC REGU-
LATORS FOR MARINE ENGINES." A communication.
The object of this Invention is to afford the means for operating one or more
valves for controlling the speed or action of a marine engine in such a manner as
to obtain the full power of a magnet by producing the necessary action while the
armature is in close contact therewith, and so as to avoid the danger of catching on
the centre by forming or breaking an electrical circuit either by means of a float or
equivalent device operated by the vessel in a rough sea, or by the officer in the pilot
house, or by both, as will be more clearly herein-after described.
The first part of this Invention consists in one or more electro-magnets having a
reciprocating motion by means of a suitable connection with the engine in combi-
nation with a movable armature, and its necessary connection with a throttle or
other valve for admitting steam to and operating an engine. The arrangement is
such that when an electrical current from a galvanic battery or an electro-magnetic
machine is completed with either one of the said magnets the armature is attracted
and held in close contact with it when its movement has brought it close enough
for that purpose, and thereby drawn in the direction of its motion, so that by a
lever or other connection a valve of any kind for regulating the action or speed of
an engine may be opened or closed in either direction, while the full force of the
magnet is obtained by the armature being held in close contact during the entire
movement or until the circuit is broken. The action of one magnet moves the lever
or armature in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction. When the
electrical circuit is broken the armature remains inactive, leaving the valve

page_text: stationary, or nearly so, in the position left by the magnet by which it was
moved.
The second part of this Invention consists in an excentric or other suitable
device for producing a reciprocating movement, the electro-magnets and their con-
nections, the armature and its connecting levers leading to and for moving the
valve, all arranged for joint operation in combination with the crank of an engine.
The excentric is arranged, with reference to the said crank, to time the movements
of the electro-magnets, so that when an electric circuit is completed with either one
the armature will be attracted and the valve moved as required, only when the
crank has reached such a position in its movement that it will not catch on the
centre, either when stopping, reversing, or controlling the speed or action of the
engine.
The third part of this Invention consists in the movable electro-magnets, the
armature, and its connections, in combination with a valve and auxiliary cylinder
for operating a throttle or other valve, or for moving a reversing link.
The fourth part of the said Invention consists in the combination of the ordinary
link reversing lever with an additional lever and unlocking device for lifting the
bolt or catch from the notches in the segment. The link may be reversed by the
auxiliary cylinder without breaking the parts.
The fifth part of this Invention consists in the combination of movable magnets
and their connections with a float or equivalent device arranged at a convenient
point near the stern of the vessel, to be operated by its motion, and thereby break
and form an electrical circuit with either of the said magnets for the purpose of
regulating the action of a valve to admit more or less steam to the engine, and
thereby control its action and prevent the racing of the screw.
The float may be combined with a tube arranged within the vessel so as to be
operated by the action of the water; and the float may have a rod and sleeve for
adjusting the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th June
1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC REGU-
LATORS FOR MARINE ENGINES." A communication to me from abroad by James
Sangster and William Shelton Grosvenor, both of Buffalo, New York, United
States of America.
The object of this Invention is to afford the means for operating one or more
valves for controlling the speed or action of a marine engine in such a manner as
to obtain the full power of a magnet by producing the necessary action while the
armature is in close contact therewith, and so as to avoid the danger of catching on
the centre by forming or breaking an electrical circuit either by means of a float or
equivalent device operated by the vessel in a rough sea, or by the officer in the
pilot house, or by both, as will be more clearly herein-after described.
The first part of this Invention consists in one or more electro-magnets having
a reciprocating motion by means of a suitable connection with the engine, in com-
bination with a moveable armature, and if necessary, connections with a throttle
or other valve for admitting steam to and operating an engine. The arrangement
is such that when an electrical current from a galvanic battery or an electro-
magnetic machine is completed with either one of the said magnets the armature
is attracted and held in clo-e contact with it when its movement has brought it
close enough for that purpose, and thereby drawn in the direction of its motion, so
that by a lever or other connection a valve of any kind for regulating the action
or speed of an engine may be opened or closed in either "direction, while the full

page_text: force of the magnet is obtained by the armature being held in close contact during
the entire movement, or until the circuit is broken. The action of one magnet
moves the lever or armature in one direction, and the other moves it in the opposite
direction. When the electrical circuit is broken the armature remains inactive;
leaving the valve stationary, or nearly so, in the position left by the magnet by
which it was moved.
The second part of this Invention consists in an excentric or other suitable
device for producing a reciprocating movement, the electro-magnets and their
connections, the armature and its connecting levers leading to and for moving the
valve, all arranged for joint operation in combination with the crank of an engine.
The excentric is arranged, with reference to the said crank, to time the movements
of the electro-magnets, so that when an electric circuit is completed with either
one, the armature will be attracted and the valve moved as required, only when
the crank has reached such a position in its movement that it will not catch on
the centre either when stopping, reversing, or controlling the speed or action of tho
engine.
The third part of this Invention consists in the movable electro-magnets, tho
armature and its connections in combination with a valve and and auxiliary cylinder
for operating a throttle or other valve, or for moving a reversing link.
The fourth part of the said Invention consists in the combination of the ordinary
link reversing lever with an additional lever and unlocking device for lifting the
bolt or catch from the notches in the segment; the link may be reversed by the
auxiliary cylinder without breaking the parts.
The fifth part of this Invention consists in the combination of movable magnets
and their connections with a float or equivalent device arranged at a convenient
point near the stern of the vessel to be operated by its motion, and thereby break
and form an electrical circuit with either of the said magnets for the purpose of
regulating the action of a valve to admit more or less steam to the engine, and
thereby control its action and prevent the racing of the screw.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of this Invention as applied and arranged for
reversing a steam engine from a distance by operating the link.
Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same showing on an enlarged scale the
electro-magnets, auxiliary cylinder, and connections.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the auxiliary cylinder for operating the
link; also a side elevation of the link reversing lever and the mechanism for
releasing it from the segment before moving it.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the operation of this Invention in preventing the
catching of an engine on the centre while reversing or stopping.
Figure 5 shew a portion of a vessel, and represents the said Invention arranged
and combined therewith for the purpose of regulating the speed of the engine in
rough water, and thereby preventing the racing of the same when the wheel is out
or nearly out of the water."
Figure 6 represents a section through a portion of the steam pipe, and a con-
venient manner of applying the said Invention to an ordinary butterfly valve.
And Figures 7 and 8 shew modifications of the same.
A, A', represent the electro-magnets; they are arranged upon a slideway b, and
receive a reciprocating motion from the engine or other moving machine by means
of the connecting rod c and excentric d. It may be made adjustable on the shaft,
or fastened so that the magnet, which may be charged by a connected circuit with
a galvanic battery or its equivalent will by its motion reach and attract the arma-
ture and move just at the moment the engine crank has reached the point where
the momentum of the wheel will carry it past the centre when stopping the engine,
or at the proper point for reversing without catebing on the centre when arranged
for operating a link. B represents the armature arranged to vibrate on the lever C
to which it is jointed at D; it is kept from vibrating too far by the plate E. The

page_text: lever C could be arranged in an upright position so that the end holding the armaturo
could swing between the two magnets, in which case the armature might be rigidly
fastened thereto. The lever C swings upon the joint F, and is connected with the
valve stem f of the cylinder ✪ between the collars g, g', as shown in Figures 1
and 3, so as to move along the stem between said collars, which are rigidly
fastened thereto so as to leave a little lost motion between thein. H represents a
segment forming a part of the ordinary link motion reversing gear, better shown in
Figure 3, h, being the usual reversing lever; i, the locking device; J is a hand lever
for lifting it from the notches j; K represents a spring for holding it down into said
notches when adjusted to the point desired for cutting off. But this part of the
apparatus being like the reversing gear of a steam engine is so well known, that
it require no further description here. L is an additional reversing lever to be
used in combination with the reversing link of an engine provided with a segment
having notches for locking the reversing lever at several points. The lever Lis
connected with the auxiliary cylinder G by means of the connecting rod M and
piston rod M¹, and with the reversing lever by means of the additional unlocking
device O which is secured and vibrates on the joint O¹ on lever h. P, P¹, represent
two projecting pins or studs on lever L.
It will be readily understood that a movement of the lever L in either direction
will first turn the unlocking device O by means of either one of the studs P, PL,
according to the direction in which it is moved, and thereby move the bolt i from
the notch and then move the reversing lever without breaking said bolt. Q, in
Figure 2, represents an ordinary switch for changing the electrical current from one
electro-magnet to another, or completing a circuit at either t or t¹.
When the switch is connected at t¹ the circuit is complete from one pole of the
battery R through the electro-magnet A to the other pole of the battery R¹; when
it is at t it forms the same circuit through the electro-magnet A
This switch
should be located in the pilot house, but it can be placed in any convenient part
of the vessel, or several may be combined with the wires leading to the magnets
from different parts of the boat, if required, or one may be placed in the engineer's
room to that he may more easily operate the engine.
An equivalent contrivance for accomplishing a similar result would be to give
the armature a reciprocating motion like that of the electro-magnets, and arrange
a connection with the said magnets so that they will act when charged, and be
carried by the moving armature the same as the armature is; now in moving the
valve the result would be the same, but I prefer the arrangement as described.
V, in Figure 5, represents a float of sheet metal or other material sufficiently
light for the purpose, and in the form of a cylinder or ball; it is inclosed within a
tube U arranged near the stern inside of the vessel with an opening at the bottom
leading through the side, bottom, or other part of the boat to admit the water.
The float is connected to a rod Vi which passes up through the sleeve W so as to be
adjustable up or down and fastened at any point by the set screw W. Qrepre-
sents a pivoted lever made to vibrate easily at F³ on a frame fastened to the tube U.
Qis a device for limiting its movements; it is jointed to the sleeve W by an arm S¹,
as shown; t, t, represent points connected with the electro-magnets A, A1, by wires
leading thereto. It is obvious that as the lever Q' is made to vibrate between the
points t, t, by the action of the float or water a connection will be made with
either of the magnets A or A, the battery thereby holding the steam valve either
open or closed.
When it is desired to move the magnets at a speed greater than the engine a
belt and pulley may be used, as shown at U, but when the speed of both is to be
equal so as to prevent the engines catching on the centre when operating it an
excentric, crank, or other equivalent device should be used; a belt would be liable
to slip and destroy the adjustment for that purpose.
In Figure G I have shown the moving magnets connected to an ordinary butterfly
valve, so that one or the other of the magnets is in action all the time; when the
circuit is complete with the magnet A¹ and the battery the movement of the valve

page_text: is from a to a³, and when complete with magnet A its movement is from a³ to a³;
said magnets in this combination may be made to move with the engine, or much
faster if desired.
It will be evident from the foregoing that an immersion or partial immersion of
the boat will cause the valve to be opened and steam admitted to the engine and
an emersion of the stern from the water will cause the float to drop and reverse the
action of the valve, thereby shutting off the steam from the engine, or partly
shutting it off, according to the adjustment of the valve.
The operation of this Invention from the pilot house or other part of the vessel
by the officer is as follows:-For reversing an engine, the excentric or other device
for moving the magnets is so set that they will operate the auxiliary cylinder and
reverse the link at or about the time the engine crank as it advances in the
direction of arrow X has reached the position shown at Y, Figure 4, or nearly
so, thereby admitting steam on the opposite side of the engine piston, and foreing
the crank in the direction of the arrow X¹ with sufficient force to continue its
movement past the centre. This is effected by completing the circuit of the battery
at and charging electro-magnet A, which advances in the direction of the
arrow A, Figure 2, far enough to reach the armature B and hold it in close contact
so that in its reverse movement it will carry the armature with it and operate the
valve C, as before mentioned. As long as the armature is held by the electric
current it will partake of the movements of the electro-magnet, but the lost motion
between the collars g, g', permits only enough reverse movement of the valve stem f
to allow sufficient steam on the opposite side of the piston in cylinder G to cushion it.
It is evident that a change of electrical current from to twill charge electro-
magnet A and reverse the action; when the current is broken by placing the switch
Qinidway between t, t, the armature B remains stationary, or nearly so, while the
magnets A, A, continue their movements, alternately moving to and from the
armature without acting upon it.
When arranged for stopping an engine the auxiliary cylinder, or its equivalent,
or the lever C, can be connected directly with the throttle valve, or an additional
lever and auxiliary cylinder may be used for that purpose.
In Figure 7 I have shown the magnets arranged so as to be operated by a
revolving armature moving in one direction; B', being the armature; A, A, tho
magnets. When an electrical circuit is completed with A it is moved together with
the toothed segment to which it is fastened, in the direction of the movement of
the armature which is attracted by said magnet causing pinion b¹ to move pinion d
thus moving the valve in one direction, the wheel being upon a fixed axis end
connected with the valve. When the circuit is completed with A' it is obvious the
movement of the valve will be made without the gearing, and consequently
reversed. The electrical connections in the above-described device are made in a
manner well known to electricians.
Figure 8 represents the electro-magnets arranged on a frame made to oscillate on
arms radiating from a centre.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood, that I claim,—
First. The moveable electro-magnet or electro-magnets receiving movement from
an engine and a moveable armature having a suitable connection with a steam
valve, all combined for joint operation, so that the valve is moved by the motion
of the magnet while the armature is held in close contact with it by means of a
current of electricity.
Second. The combination of the moveable electro-magnets and their connections
for forming or breaking a circuit with a battery with an armature arranged
between them upon an arm for moving a valve in two directions for the purposes
specified.
Third. The combination, as specified, of a main steam engine, an auxiliary steam
engine for controlling the steam supply valve thereof, an electro-magnet recipro-

page_text: cated by the main engine, the armature, the lever for shifting the valve of the
auxiliary engine and the valve thereof.
Fourth. The electro-magnets in combination with the connecting rod and
excentric arranged and adjusted upon an engine shaft, with reference to the position
of the crank thereon, so as to time the movements of the electro-magnets for tho
purposes described.
Fifth. The electro-magnets, armature, arm, auxiliary cylinder and its connections,
the lever provided with studs, and the unlocking device, all combined and arranged
for reversing an engine, as above set forth:
Sixth. The combination of the float, the rod jointed by a suitable connection to
a lever and the points for forming or breaking an electrical circuit for the purposes
specified.
Seventh. The combination of the float with a tube arranged within the vessel, as
specified, and operated by the action of the water for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the float and rod and the sleeve for adjusting the
same as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HY. JAS, NOONE,
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)