Improvements in Pumping' Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumping' Engines.
JOHN COCHRANE, Barrhead near Glasgow, Engineer, WILLIAM WALKER,.
12 Holly Street, Eccles New Road, Salford, Manchester Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of operating the valve of the cylinder, for
the purpose of reversing the motion of the main piston of the said cylinder at or
near each end of its stroke, and producing a reciprocating action without the aid
of a fly wheel.
We use by preference an ordinary three ported cylinder, and above it is formed
a circular chamber or casing which is bored out to receive a circular valve, for the
purpose of steam or fluid distribution to the said main piston.
The said circular valve is made in this instance to work in the same longitudinal
plane as the said main piston.
The outer ends of the said circular valve are closed, so as to fulfil the functions
of pistons, and each end of the same is operated upon alternately by steam or
fluid pressure, for the aforesaid purpose of distributing such steam or fluid pressure
to one side or the other of the main piston as the case may be. The manner in
which this is effected is as follows:-To the piston rod of the engine between the
pump and cylinder glands we attach a light connecting rod, and the said connecting
rod is made to give a vibrating or swinging motion to a lever. The said swinging
or vibrating lever is keyed on to a spindle, the said spindle having a rocking motion
imparted to it by the swinging or vibrating lever.
The said rocking spindle is made to pass transversely and centrally across and
through the circular distributing valve and valve box proper. The outer end of
the said rocking spindle is made of an enlarged diameter, and is turned to fit into
a suitable casing, which forms part of the circular distributing valve box. Suitable
passages or thoroughfares are formed on the said enlarged diameter of the said
rocking spindle, such passages or thoroughfares being so arranged as to give steam
or fluid pressure, through auxiliary fluid passages to either one end or the other
of the closed ends of the said circular distributing valve, and simultaneously to
place the opposite end in direct communication with the main exhaust passage of
the engine. This occurs when the main piston is nearing the end of its stroke,
whereby the equilibrium of the said circular distributing valve is disturbed, and
therefore "flashed " over, and the motion of the main piston is reversed
accordingly.
The said rocking spindle is made to fulfil another duty, besides simply acting
as a valve for "Hashing" over the main circular distributing valve by fluid
pressure.
The manner and purpose for which this is accomplished is as follows.
A tongue or projection is formed on the said rocking spinale, and the said tongue
or projection is of sufficient length to reach suitable projections formed on the inside
of the said circular distributing valve in one direction or the other at each end of
the stroke of the main piston, whereby the said circular distributing valve would
be forced or pushed over in either direction by pure mechanical means, thereby
ensuring a positive reversal of the main piston, in the event of sluggish "flashing
by fluid pressure, which might arise from the presence of "grit" in the circular
valve box, or other causes, especially when running at high speeds.
Dated this 16th day of October 1891
"
JOHN COCHRANE.
WILLIAM WALKER,

page_text: E
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumping Engines.
JOHN COCHRANE, Engineer, Barrhead, Scotland, WILLIAM WALKER,
Mechanical Engineer, 12 Holly Street, Eccles New Road, Salford, Manchester,
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:-
This invention relates to a method of operating the valve of the cylinder, for the
purpose of reversing the motion of the main piston of the said cylinder, at or near
each end of its stroke and producing a reciprocating action without the aid of a
Ay wheel.
=
We use by preference an crdinary three ported cylinder, and above it is formed
a circular chamber or casing, which is bored out to receive a circular valve for the
purpose of steam or fluid distribution to the said main piston. The said circular
valve is made in this instance to work in the same longitudinal plane as the said
main piston.
The outer ends of the said circular valve are closed, so as to fulfil the functions
of pistons, and each end of the same is operated upon alternately by steam or fluid
pressure, for the aforesaid purpose of distributing such steam or fluid pressure to
one side or the other of the main piston as the case may be.
The manner in which this is effected is as follows:-To the piston rod of the
engine, between the pump and cylinder glands, we attach a light connecting rod,
and the said connecting rod is made to give a vibrating or swinging motion to a
·lever.
The said swinging or vibrating lever is keyed to a spindle, the said spindle
having a rocking motion imparted to it by the swinging or vibrating lever.
The said rocking spindle is made to pass transversely and centrally across and
through the circular distributing valve and valve box proper. The outer end of
the said rocking spindle is made of an enlarged diameter, and is turned to fit into
a suitable casing, which forms part of the circular distributing valve box. Suitable
passages or thoroughfares are formed on the said enlarged diameter of the said
rocking spindle, such passages or thoroughfares being so arranged as to give steam
or fluid pressure through auxiliary fluid passages to either one end or the other of
the closed ends of the said circular distributing valve, and simultaneously to place.
the opposite end in direct communication with the main exhaust passage of the
engine. This occurs when the main piston is nearing the end of its stroke, whereby
the equilibrium of the said circular distributing valve is disturbed, and therefore
flashed" over, and the motion of the main piston is reversed accordingly. The
said rocking spindle is made to fulfil another duty, besides simply acting as a
valve for "Hashing" over the main circular distributing valve by fluid pressure.
The manner and purpose for which this is accomplished is as follows:-
A tongue or projection is formed on the said rocking spindle, and the said
tongue or projection is of sufficient length to reach suitable projections formed on
the inside of the said circular distributing valve in one direction or the other at
each end of the stroke of the main piston, whereby the said circular distributing
valve would be forced or pushed over in either direction by pure mechanical means,
thereby ensuring a positive reversal of the main piston, in the event of sluggish
"flashing" by fluid pressure, which might arise from the presence of "grit" in
the circular valve box, or other causes, especially when running at high speeds.
Fig. 1 on the accompanying drawing shews a longitudinal section through the
steam cylinder.
Fig. 2 shews a cross section through the centre of the said cylinder.
Fig. 3 is a semi section shewing the auxiliary admission and exhaust ports for
"flashing" over the main valve, also a part or section of the enlarged diameter of

page_text: rocking spindle for exhausting purposes only, from either one end or the other of the
main valve.
Fig. 4 is a semi section, shewing the auxiliary admission and exhaust ports for
"flashing" over the main valve, also a part or section of the enlarged diameter of
rocking spindle, for steam admission purposes only, to either one end or the other
of the main valve.
Fig. 5 is an end view of the rocking spindle with its enlarged diameter for being
driven by the said rocking spindle.
Figs. 6, 7 & 8 shews the said rocking spindle in detail, with the driving end,
also the tongue or projection for moving the main valve mechanically.
Fig. 9 is a detail of the casing with its auxiliary steam and exhaust ports, the
said casing containing the enlarged diameter of rocking spindle, for steaming and
exhausting to either end of the main valve for "flashing" over the same.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood, the action of the mechanism
is as follows
The main piston (M) of the engine is shown on the accompanying drawing as
moving from left to right as indicated by the arrow, steam and exhaust taking
place through ordinary ports (Q) and (Q). The piston rod (A) is made to give
motion to the light connecting rod (B) in the same direction, the said connecting
rod (B) being attached to the piston rod (A). The said connecting rod (B)
transmits its motion to the swinging or vibrating lever (C), the said swinging
lever being keyed on to the rocking spindle (D) upon which is mounted the
enlarged diameter of distributing valve (E) Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10. When the
main piston (M) approaches the end of its stroke, the said distributing valve (E)
admits "live" steam to one end of the main valve (N) through the thorough-
fare (X) Figs. 2 and 4, and at the same moment or nearly so, the opposite end of
the main valve (N) is placed in direct communication with the main exhaust (F)
through the thoroughfare (X2) Figs. 3 and 4. The main valve (N) is thus
"flashed" over, and the motion of the main piston (M) is consequently reversed.
Double sets of the said passages or thoroughfares, are arranged in order that a
reciprocating action of the main piston (M) is maintained. The auxiliary exhaust
ports (X) and (X2), Figs. 1, 3 and 4 are so located where leading into the main
valve chamber, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, that the main valve (N) in "flashing" over in
either direction is made to "cushion" itself, by closing its own exhaust port, and
when this occurs, the said main valve (N) is brought into a state of equilibrium,
until again disturbed in the manner already described, but in an opposite
direction.
The liner (P) Fig. 9 is simply made to facilitate simplicity of manufacture and
accuracy of workmanship, the said liner (P) being turned and bored to receive
the distributing valve (E). The slot (R) Fig. 5 is made of the form as shewn,
at the end of the distributing valve (E) as to allow the driving end of the rocking
spindle at (Y) Figs. 5, 6, and 7 to have a working range without moving the distri-
buting valve (E) in either direction within certain limits, and this permits the said
distributing valve (E) to be void of steam and exhaust lap or cover, in order to
ensure the pump starting from any position, whether the main piston (M) is impelled
by either steam, compressed air, water or other fluid pressure.
The tongue or projection (W) Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 which is formed on the rocking
spindle (D) is for the purpose of forcing over the main valve (N) when running
at high speeds, in case of the sluggish "flashing" of the said main valve (N) by
means of the distributing valve (E).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is -
1st. In pumps of this kind a rocking spindle, having a tongue or projection formed
on it, so as to reverse the main valve mechanically when running at high speeds,
or other causes, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described

page_text: 2nd. A rocking spindle the end of which actuates a distributing valve, substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
3rd. The driven end or ends of the distributing valve so formed as to permit
such distributing valve to be void of steam and exhaust lap, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
JOHN COCHRANE.
WILLIAM WALKER.