Improvements in Valve Gear for Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
Improvements in Valve Gear for Motive Power Engines.
A communication to me from CARL RICHTER, of Rumburg, Bohemia, in the
Empire of Austria, Engineer.
I, EDиUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., l'atent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawings, that is to say :--
This invention has for its object a novel method of actuating the distributing
valves of motive power engines, for the purpose of reversing the direction of
rotation of such engines, by means of two engaging and disengaging clutches.
To reverse the Engine, the clutches are first uncoupled, and they are then re-
coupled at an angle of 180 degrees to their original position, the action of the
valve being therefore reversed.
A special arrangement of apparatus is also used, by which the clutches can be
uncoupled by hand, whilst their coupling takes place automatically.
Further, the uncoupling may be started by hand, whilst the uncoupling itself
as well as the coupling, are automatically effected. Any missing of the coupling
of the clutches is also prevented. This is effected by means of a suitable cam.
In the accompanying drawings, which are in illustration of the invention,
different arrangements of apparatus for the required purpose are shewn, one such
arrangement in Figures 14, and another in Figures 5-7.
Figure 1 is a part cross section through the cylinder of the engine, and
Figure 2 à part longitudinal section through the same,
Figures 3 and 4 show separate details,
Figure 5 is a plan,
Figure 6 a section on the line - Figure 5, and
Figure 7 is a diagram shewing the development of one of the parts.
In the first form of arrangement the spindle a of the revolving distributing
valve b, has fitted upon it. a bevelled toothed wheel c, which turns loose upon it
but cannot move endways. A similar bevelled toothed wheel d, which is constantly
in gear with e, is keyed upon the continuously revolving spindle e. The toothed
wheel is provided with a coupling which can engage with its teeth when
required with a second corresponding coupling g which is keyed upon the spindle a
so that it cannot turn upon the latter but can be moved endways upon the key h.
It is evident, therefore, that if the two couplings are put in gear with each
other the spindle a of the valve is caused to revolve by means of the spindle e
If the couplings are thrown out of gear, the spindle a and the revolving valve b
cease to revolve. The uncoupling of the two couplings is effected by pressing
down a handle, Figure 1, which is formed upon a spindle ¹, fitting so that it can
move endways in the socket & carried by the frame of the apparatus, a fork 23
upon one end of the spindle fitting in an annular recess ground the boss of
the coupling g. At the other end of the spindle is a projection 13 acted upon by
D...0.

page_text: a double cam upon the spindle m which is made to revolve continuously by the
spindle through toothed wheels and o, but at half the speed of e. If
the handle is in the position shown in Figure 1 its movement up, and
the recoupling of the clutches take place when spindle m has moved through
an angle of 90 degrees. Instead of the double can a single one may be used,
if the speed of the two spindles e and m is made the same.
The revolving valve b is shown separately in Figure 3, and the valve seat in
Figure 4. Whilst in the first form of apparatus described the gearing together of
the couplings is entirely automatic, their uncoupling may be similarly effected
auch uncoupling being started by hand.
For this purpose, the second method of arrangement is adopted.
The coupling is in this case (Figure 5) koyed upon the spindle a', whilst the
opposite coupling 9 is fitted upon a key upon the spindle a, so that it can move
endways but cannot turn round. A helical spring P, round the spindle a, tends
always to oring the coupling g into gear with the other one f. This coupling is
disengaged if by hand and by means of the bar and a ring which turns
freely in an annular groove round the coupling g--the latter coupling is drawn
away from the other one f. A roller g turning upon a fixed centre is arranged
so that it can enter a cam groove g' on the coupling clutch g. As indicated in
Figure 7 which represents the development of this groove round y, it is so
shaped that the clutch is again coupled before the roller 7 leaves the groove.
For this purpose the point of entrance I and of exit Il are exactly opposite to each
other, or 180 degrees apart.
The coupling is therefore lowered sufficiently by hand, by the bar ¹, until
the roller g enters the groove g¹, and the coupling g is then forced down by the
groove, in the same direction, until disengaged from f, and is then forced up, in
the opposite direction, until re-engaged with f, the relative positions of the
couplings being then exactly opposite to those which they first occupied, and the
action of the distributing valve of the engine being accordingly reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
In valve gear for motive power engines the coupling clutches f, g, arranged
opposite to each other so that their coupling together is effected in certain positions,
one of them being actuated by cam gear for the purpose of so effecting their
coupling, or both their coupling and uncoupling, substantially as described and
illustrated
Dated this 1st day of April 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.,
05 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.