IM- PROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI- CABLE TO POWER BRAKES OR APPARATUS FOR RETARDING AND ARRESTING MOTION, AND TO POWER HOISTS OR LIFTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Oliver and Charles Thompson Owen, both of
Chesterfield, in the County of Derby, Engineers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO POWER BRAKES OR APPARATUS FOR RETARDING AND ARRESTING
MOTION, AND TO POWER HOISTS OR LIFTS."
Sealed the 11th July 1876, and dated the 13th January 1876,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Oliver and Charles
Thompson Owen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th
January 1876.
WILLIAM OLIVER and CILARLES THOMPSON OWEN, both of Chesterfield, in the
County of Derby, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO POWER BRAKES OR APPARATUS FOR
RETARDING AND ARRESTING MOTION, AND TO POWER HOISTS OR LIFTS."
Our Invention relates more particularly to improved valve gear or apparatus to
be employed for starting, stopping, and reversing the distributing valves of motive-
power engines, particularly colliery, winding, and hauling engines, marine engines,
locomotive engines, and rolling mill engines, by the agency of steam, compressed
air, or other suitable fluid, but it is also applicable to power friction brakes for
retarding or stopping the motion of revolving shafts or drums and other like pur-
poses, and to power hoists or lifts.
One special object of the Invention as applied to the starting, stopping, and
reversing of motive-power engines is to so arrange the apparatus that the actuating
handle of the engine shall be placed in the same position and worked in a manner
similar to that in which it is operated when the position of the reversing links is
changed by hand, and so that in the case of a failure in the power mechanism this
operation may be performed by hand.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we employ a subsidiary cylinder fitted
with a piston and provided with ports controlled by a suitable slide valve. To the
rod of the piston (which works parallel through suitable guides) there is attached
by means of a link the extremity of the lower arm of a double-armed lever
mounted fast on the shaft for controlling the link motion (herein-after termed the
LD 27

page_text: reversing shaft). One arm of this lever, say, for example, the the upper arm, is forked
for the reception of the actuating handle (herein-after termed the reversing handle)
which is fitted loosely upon the said shaft, and it is also provided with stops or pro-
jections for limiting the independent motion of the reversing handle, which stops or
projections may be utilized as handles for reversing or moving the reversing links
by hand in the case of an emergency. The reversing handle (which is fitted so as
to work in a quadrant in the usual manner) is jointed at its lower end (extended
below the reversing shaft) to a link, to which it is connected by a rod, and the upper
end of which is attached by another rod to the upper arm of the double-armed lever.
The rod of the valve of the subsidiary cylinder is attached to the link before mentioned
at a suitable intermediate point, so that when the reversing handle is moved by hand
the requisite distance between the slots or projections provided on the upper arm
of the double-armed lever the subsidiary valve will be opened for the admission of
the motive fluid to the one side or the the other of the subsidiary piston as required,
and the piston being thus operated its motion will be transmitted to the double-
armed lever, and thence to the reversing shaft, whereby the position of the link
motion will be reversed or changed as required. The subsidiary valve by reason of
its attachment to the link is simultaneously moved into its central position so as to
cover both the parts of the subsidiary cylinder, by which means the reversing shaft
is retained in the position into which it has been moved by the stroke of the piston
until the latter is again actuated by the subsidiary valve being reopened by hand in
the manner before mentioned.
In the foregoing description the subsidiary cylinder has been assumed as placed
horizontally, but it is obvious that it may be arranged either vertically or at an
angle as desired, the relative position of the various parts of the gear being altered
accordingly.
Our Invention also consists in the employment of an engine actuated by steam or
compressed air, or other suitable fluid, and fitted with a modification of the
improved valve gear as a brake for retarding and regulating the motion of revolving
shafts or drums.
In carrying out this part of our Invention the rod of the slide valve is attached
to the centre or other suitable intermediate point of a link, one extremity of which
is connected by means of a rod to a lever fast on the actuating shaft, to which
motion is imparted by a treadle or handle, or automatically by apparatus worked
by the revolutions of the shaft, whilst the opposite end of the link is secured by
means of another rod to one arm of a three-armed lever working on a fixed centre
or fulcrum. This lever is attached by another arm to the piston rod, whilst its
third arm is connected by means of a link to one extremity of a single or double
armed lever, say, for example, a single-armed lever working on a fixed centre or
fulcrum at its opposito extremity, and having attached to its centre or other suit-
able intermediate portion the brake strap, which passes round a drum, and is
operated upon the toggle principle or by leverage in the ordinary manner.
In the case of locomotive engines the brake blocks may be connected in any con-
venient manner to the end of the lever or toggle rods, which may be either single
or double.
The three-armed lever may be provided with stops, between which the actuating
arm may work in a similar manner to that of the reversing apparatus herein-before
described.
Our Invention further consists in the application of this principle to a power
hoist or lift by the employment of a cylinder the valve of which is worked by a
handle, the piston being caused to actuate a double-armed lever provided with stops
similar to that of the reversing apparatus herein-before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said William Oliver and Charles Thompson Owen in the Great Seal Patent,
Office on the 11th July 1876.
WILLIAM OLIVER and CHARLES THOMPSON OWEN, both of Chesterfield, in the
County of Derby, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, WHICH
IMPROVEMETNS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO POWER BRAKES OR APPARATUS FOR
RETARDING AND ARRESTING MOTION, AND TO POWER HOISTS OR LIFTS."
Our said Invention relates more particularly to improved valve gear or apparatus
to be employed for starting, stopping, and reversing the distributing valves of
motive-power engines (and especially those of colliery winding and hauling engines,
marine engines, locomotive engines, and rolling mill engines) by the agency of
steam, compressed air, or other suitable fluid, but it is also applicable to power
friction brakes for retarding or stopping the motion of revolving shafts or drums
and other like purposes, and to power hoists or lifts.
One special object of the Invention, as applied to the starting, stopping, and
reversing of motive-power engines, is to so arrange the apparatus that the actuating
handle of the engine shall be placed in the same position and worked in a manner
similar to that in which it is operated when the position of the reversing links is
changed by hand, and so that in case of a failure in the power mechanism this
operation may be performed by hand. In applying the Invention to brakes and
to power hoists or lifts the apparatus is constructed and arranged upon the same
principle, the details being alone modified according to the particular purpose to
which it is to be adapted.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to .
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings represents a sectional elevation of so much of an
apparatus for starting, stopping, and reversing engines, as is sufficient for the
purpose of elucidating our Invention; Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a modification; .
and Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1, illustrating the application of the
Invention to the purposes of a friction brake.
Referring to Figure 1 of our Drawings, we employ a subsidiary cylinder A,
fitted with a piston B, and provided with ports a, a, controlled by a suitable slide
valve C. To the rod bof the piston B (which works parallel in suitable guides D, D,)
there is attached, by means of a link E, the extremity of the lower arm c, of a
double arned lever F, mounted fast on the shaft G, for controlling the link motion
(herein-after termed the reversing shaft). One arm of this lever (the upper one
in the example shewn in the Drawings) is forked for the reception of the actuating
handle H (herein-after termed the reversing handle) which is fitted loosely upon
the shaft G, and the said arm is also provided with stops or projections c, e, for
limiting the independent motion of the reversing handle H, which stops or pro-
jections may be utilized for facilitating the reversing or moving the reversing links
by hand in the case of an emergency by continuing the hand movement of the
reversing bandle H, and causing it to bear upon one or other of the stops or pro-
jections e, e, so as to move the lever F. The reversing handle H (which is fitted
so as to work in a quadrant I in the usual manner) is jointed at its lower ends
(extended below the reversing shaft G) to a link K, to which it is connected by a..
rod L, and the upper end of which link is attached by another rod M to the upper
arm d of the double armed lever F. The rod f, of the valve C, of the subsidiary
cylinder A, is attached to the link K at a suitable intermediate point g, so that
when the reversing handle H is moved by hand the requisite distance in one'
direction or the other between the stops or projections e, e, provided on the upper.
arin of the double armed lever F, the subsidiary valve C will be open for the
admission of the motive fluid to the one side or the other, as the case may be, of
0

page_text: the subsidiary piston B, and the piston being thus operated its motion will be
transmitted to the double-armed lever F, and thence to the reversing shaft G,
whereby the position of the link motion will be reversed or changed as required.
The subsidiary valve C, by reason of its attachment to the link K, is simultaneously
moved into its central position (which is the position indicated in our Drawings)
so as to cover both the ports a, a, of the subsidiary cylinder A, by which means
the reversing shaft G is retained in the position into which it has been moved by
the stroke of the piston B until the latter is again actuated by the subsidiary
valve C, being reopened by hand by the movement of the handle H in a direction
the reverse of that of its previous motion, such valve being then again closed
automatically in the manner herein-before described. The dotted lines H1, H2,
indicate respectively the positions of the handle for the forward and backward
motions of the main engine, the position shewn by the full lines at H being neutral
or corresponding to "stop."
In the arrangement shewn in our Drawings the subsidiary cylinder A is
repesented as placed horizontally, but it is obvious that it may be arranged either
vertically or at an angle as desired, the relative position of the various parts of the
gear being altered accordingly. In lieu also of placing the link K between the
reversing shaft G and the cylinder A it may be arranged beyond the shaft C, and
connected to the valve spindle f by a suitable rod and a similar result will be
obtained. Also the link K may be connected at the top end by the rod M to a
pin fixed in the reversing handle H, and at the bottom end to the lower end of the
double-armed lever F, a double-armed lever being used between the point g of the
link K and the valve spindle f to change the direction of the movement rendered
necessary by changing the connections. It is obvious that the stops e, c, may be
formed on the handle H instead of on the lever F as shown.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively front and side elevations, illustrating a modifi-
cation of the arrangement shewn in Figure 1. According to this modification the
rods L and M are dispensed with, and the link K is arranged so as to surround the
shaft G, space being provided within its boss, as shewn at c¹, in order to admit of
the requisite play. The link K is attached directly at its upper end at M³ to tho
arm & of the lever F, shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2, and at its lower end at L¹
(with a little vertical play) to the lower arm c of the handle H; the rod of the
valve C is connected at 1, and the piston rod at 6. The details are otherwise
similar to those of the arrangement shewn in Figure 1, and will requiro no further
explanation.
In applying the reversing apparatus to locomotive engines the whole may be
fixed in the position of the bandle, and be connected in a suitable manner to the
link motion, or the handle and arm with stops may be placed in the usual position,
and the cylinder and the other necessary parts be fixed on the motion plate, suitable
connections being arranged between the handle and arm on the foot plate to the
valve rod and arm near the cylinder, the action being similar to that herein-beforo
described.
Our said Invention also consists in the employment of an engino actuated by
steam or compressed air or other suitablo fluid, and fitted with a modification of the
improved valve gear as a brake for retarding and regulating the motion of revolving
shafts or drums.
This part of our Invention is illustrated in Figure 4. According to this
arrangement the rod f of the slido valve C is attached to the centre or other
suitable intermediate point g of a link K, one extremity of which is connected by
means of a rod L to a lever H fast on the shaft G, to which motion is imparted
by a treadle or handle, not shewn in our Drawings, or automatically by apparatus
worked by the revolutions of the shaft. The end of the link K opposito to that at
which the rod L is attached is secured by means of another rod 1 to one arm d of
a three-armed lever F working loose on the shaft G as a fulcrum. The other
arms c, l, of this lever are arranged in the following manner:-The arm c works
between stops c, c, provided on the lever H, and it is attached through the inter-

page_text: vention of a rod E to the piston rod b, whilst the third arm k is connected by
means of a link R to one extremity of a single or double-armed lever, a single-
armed lever S being employed in the example shewn in our Drawings, working on
a fixed centre or fulcrum Tat its opposite extremity, and having attached to its
centre, or other suitable intermediate portion, the connection U with the brake
strap. The other parts of the brake apparatus are not shewn in my Drawings. The
brake strap passes round a drum, and is operated upon the toggle principle, or by
leverage in the ordinary inanner.
In the case of locomotive engines the brake blocks may be connected in any
convenient manner to the end of the lever or toggle rods, which may be either
single or double.
It is obvious that the valve in the brake apparatus operates in a similar manner
to the valve of the reversing apparatus, that is to say, the valve having been opened
either to put on or to take off the brake is closed automatically as the desired
action is obtained, whereby the brake is retained in the position into which it has
been brought, either on or off, as the case may be, until the valve is again opened
in the manner herein-before described.
Our Invention further consists in the application of this principle to a power
hoist or lift by the employment of an engine the valve of which is worked by a
handle, the piston being caused to actuate a double armed lever provided with stops,
similar to that of the reversing apparatus herein-before described, and mounted on
a fixed centre or fulcrum. When the handle is raised or lowered, as the case may
be, the piston is moved in the required direction, and it is then retained in either
position by the automatic closing of the valve in the manner herein-before
described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,
First. In that class of valve gear or apparatus for motive-power engines in which
the starting, stopping, or reversing of the engines is effected by the aid of an
auxiliary engine, to the cylinder of which the motive fluid is admitted by a valve
opened by hand, but closed automatically, constructing the apparatus in such a
manner that the valve of the auxiliary engine shall be opened by means of a
handle placed on the reversing shaft, and operated by a movement similar to that
imparted to the handle of hand reversing gear, and also so that such apparatus may
be utilized for changing the position of the link motion by hand when required, as
in hand reversing gear, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by
our Drawings.
Secondly. Operating brakes by the aid of an engine actuated by a motive fluid
which is admitted to the cylinder of such engine by a valve opened by hand or
automatically, but closed automatically, the apparatus being constructed and
arranged and combined with the brake substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
Thirdly. The employment in power hoists or lifts of an engine the valve of which
is opened by hand and closed automatically, so as to retain the piston in position
when it has performed a stroke in cither direction, the apparatus being arranged
and combined substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Oliver and Charles Thompson Owen,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the Sixth day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM OLIVER.
(L.S.)
CHARLES THOMPSON OWEN. (L.S.)