Improvements in Actuating or Operating the Valves of Steam and other Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Actuating or Operating the Valves of Steam and
other Motive Power Engines.
We, AMINTHE DÉCOMBE, Engineer; of Bordeaux, and PIERRE LAMENA,
Notary, of Pauillac, Department of Gironde, both in the Republic of France, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to actuating or operating the valves of steam and other
motive power engines and has for object an improved application of electricity
and magnetism to advantageously produce the distribution of steam in steam
engines.
In carrying out our invention we employ a commutator the commutating part of
which participates in the movement of the engine, and alternately sends the
electric current (from a dynamo or other source of electricity) into the electro-
magnets which respectively operate the steam admission valves. If the engine is
running at too great a speed it is retarded by the operation of the governor which
is connected with the two terminals through which the electric current is led in
and which can prevent the electric current from passing to the electro-magnets of
the steam inlet valves which valves then no longer allow steam to pass until the
engine resumes its normal speed.
Our electro-magnetic system of distributing steam is obviously applicable to all
kinds of distribution effected by flat or cylindrical slide. valves or other valves,
Inodifications being made to suit the different applications, and it may even be used
for gas and petroleum motors.
Tinted the 15th do. of Folruary 180
Improvements in Actuating or Operating the Valves of Steam and
other Motive Power Engines.
We, AMINTHE DÉCOMBE, Engineer, of Bordeaux, and PIERRE LAMENA,
Notary, of Pauillac, Department of Gironde, both in the Republic of France, 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 actuating or operating the valves of steam and other
motive power engines and has for object an improved application of electricity
and magnetism to advantageously produce the distribution of steam in steam
engines.
By the simplicity, precision and the economy effected by our improvements a
steam engine provided therewith is capable of rerdering effective service in

page_text: manufactories and all industries which require considerable motive power and
particularly industries which require great regularity in the working of the
motors.
In order to enable the invention to to be fully understood we will describe the
same by reference to the accompanying drawing which demonstrates our system of
electro-magnetic distribution applied to steam engines of the Sulzer type:-
Figure is a vertical section of the cylinder taken on the line -x of
Figure 4.
Figures 2 and 3 are details of the commutator.
Figure 4 represents a reduced view of the whole.
Figure 5 shews an arrangement for electrically stopping the machine in the two
extreme positions of the centrifugal governor; and,
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the complete installation.
An electro magnet a (Figure 1) is fixed to the frame b and arranged in such a
manner that its two poles are situated opposite the inlet valve c and in a plane
perpendicular to the axis of the rod d of this valve.
The electro magnet has for object to hold the valve c raised during the admission
of steam to the cylinder. For this purpose the rod of the valve supports an
armature e fixed on this rod; this armature at the moment of the opening of the
valve bears against the two poles of the electro magnet a and maintains this
position so long as the current passes to the coils. Immediately the current is
broken the electro magnet a is no longer magnetized and abandons the armature e;
at this moment, the rod d under the action of a helical spring f quickly closes the
valve which again falls on its seat, an air piston 9 being provided to prevent
shock.
The current necessary for the successive magnetization of the electro-magnet a
is furnished by means of a small electrical machine driven by the engine itself.
The current from the electrical machine passes first through a commutator
(Figures 2 and 3) placed directly beneath the governor and which breaks the
current passing through the coils at the instant compression cominences in the
motor cylinder. This commutator or distributor of the current is hereinafter
described.
As in the Sulzer machine, parallelwise to the axis of the cylinder is placed the
distributing shaft o driven by the motor shaft by means of bevel gearing. This
distributing shaft o operates the regulator and commutator also by means of bevel
gearing.
On the shaft o are keyed four cams, one opposite each valve, and these cams
operate the valves by means of levers in a well known manner.
The cams which actuate the inlet valves are constructed so as to obtain a
minimum introduction which is limited here to 1 of the volume of the cylinder.
The commutator (Figures 2 and 3) which regulates the distribution allows of
the admission being varied from 0.10 to near 1.00 to work equally well with rapid
movements of the piston.
For the purpose of obtaining a minimum introduction of 1 by the employment
of the cam it is only necessary to give the latter a larger diameter as shown in
Figure 1. Under these conditions it possesses the advantage of effecting a
complete and rapid opening of the valve (of about 25 to 3 of a second) and
consequently of avoiding the wiredrawing of the steam as it enters the cylinder.
The cams which operate the inlet valves being keyed upon the shaft o, the
extent of opening of the valve for the admission of the steam will be constant; as
to the closing this will depend upon the position of the governor as will be
hereinafter described.
From the foregoing it is easy to understand that at the moment of the introduction
of steam into the cylinder, the cam quickly and completely opens the inlet
valve c, brings into contact with the poles of the electro magnet a the armature e
which does not separate therefroin to effect the closure of the valve until the
current is broken.

page_text: The variations of the admission of steam into the cylinder therefore depend only
upon the duration of the current which passes in to the coil of the electro magnet
during the period comprised between the opening and closing of the inlet valve
nd consequently upon the commutator which regulates the duration of this
current.
The cam operates the inlet valve by means of a bent lever i, one arm of which
carries a roller on which the cam acts at the cominencement of the admission; the
other arm is jointed to a rod which is connected to one end of a bent lever k
which operates the rod of the valve c.
The closure of this valve is insured by the helical spring f which acts at the
same time upon the air piston g.
The outlet valves are operated in the same manner as in the Sulzer machines ;
the cams which operate these valves have the same diameter as those above
described for the purpose of obtaining a quick opening and closing of the outlet
opening. The cam h acts directly upon the rod m provided at one of its ends with
a roller which, during its movement turus upon the cam, the other end is jointed
to a bent lever I which operates the rod of the outlet valve c'; the closing of this
valve is insured by a helical spring n. The cam is made in such a manner as to
obtain a constant discharge and compression of the steam which has been expanded
to the end of the stroke of the piston.
The commutator is composed of a circular plate of ivory m (Figures 2 and 3) on
the face of which are fixed two metal plates p, p, as shewn in Figure 3 by hatch
lines, and which are separated from each other by suitable insulating material.
These metal plates have somewhat the form of two semi-circles having for a
common centre the centre of the plate m.
The plate p is in permanent connection with the electro-magnet which regulates
the distribution at one end of the cylinder; the plate p¹ is in permanent connection
with the electro-magnet which regulates the distribution at the other end of the
cylinder.
The ivory plate m is fixed on a circular metal plate m¹ keyed on the boss of a
crank q; the two plates m, m' are concentric with the axis of this boss.
The whole of the plates m, m¹ are placed directly in communication with the
governor by means of a rod t (Figure 4) jointed at its ends respectively to the
crank and to the lever t' which is operated by the sleeve t² of the governor.
The boss of the crank which is movable around its axis is mounted in slight
frictional contact and without play upon the socket s fixed to a support of the
apparatus. If necessary a washer is secured to the end of this socket to prevent
any movement of the boss of the crank g in the direction of its longitudinal axis.
In the same axial line is the sockets and perpendicularly to the face of the
plate m is placed a small shaft r which receives rotary movement and is driven by
the distributing shaft o by means of two equal bevel wheels ', ' so that its circular
velocity is the same as that of the flywheel of the machine.
r"
This shaft r is supported at its ends by two supports s', s2 bolted to the frame X
of the machine; one of the ends of this shaft carries the bevel wheel which
communicates to it its movement of rotation; at the other end is fixed a washer ³
which prevents any displacement in the direction of the length of the shaft.
On the part of the shaft which is near the metal plates p, p' is keyed a crank v
insulated from the shaft.
During the rotation of the shaft the end of the crank o remains constantly in
contact with the plane surface formed by the metal plates p, p' and the insulating
material which supports them for this purpose.
The end of the crank v receives the small rod v¹ of square section the axis of
which is perpendicular to the plane of the plate m and which can slide in frictional
contact and without play in a mortise of the same section as this rod formed in the
end of the crank.
The rod e' carries at its end a roller 2 which bears lightly on the surface p, p¹
of the plate; the contact of the roller with this surface is constantly insured by

page_text: the small spring ³ the tension of which can be regulated as desired by means of a
nut v*.
A terminal u fixed on a support and perfectly insulated is in permanent
communication with the crank by means of a flat spring u' which, during the
movement of rotation of the shaft r constantly rubs on the boss of this crank. This
terminal u receives the end of the positive wire of the dynamo.
Two similar terminals y, z are fixed on the plate m' and perfectly insulated from
this plate; each of these terminals communicates with a metal plate and receives
the wire which establishes a communication between the metal plate p, pl and the
electro-magnet.
The operation of the commutator will be easily understood.
The current produced by the small electrical machine arrives at first at the
terminal u and thence passes to the roller ² which, during its movement of rotation
around the shaft r comes into contact alternately with the metal plates p, p² and
consequently alternately opens and closes the current in each of the electro-
magnets a.
In order to describe the action produced by the governor to effect the admission
it is sufficient to go back to the description of the movement of the admission
valves. The distributing cams being keyed on the shaft o the extent of the
opening of the valve for the admission of the steam will consequently be constant,
this position of the admission cam will correspond to a position of the crank v
which will be always the same and which is shewa, in Figure 3, by the dotted
line V. There is also shewn in the same figure by two dotted lines the path
traversed by the roller v2, which having a movement of rotation in the direction of
the arrow as soon as the roller arrives in contact with the dotted line v-v the
admission commences in the cylinder. This admission will take place at one or
other of the ends of the cylinder according to whether the roller is in contact with
either the one or the other of the metal plates p, . The admission will cease
immediately the roller comes in contact with the insulating material placed between
these metal plates.
As the dotted line - always occupies the same position in the space it is
evident that the admission will depend upon the position of the plate m with
relation to these dotted lines and, according to whether this plate has a small
displacement or movement in one direction or the other, the admission will be
increased or diminished.
It is easy to modify according to desire the introduction of the steam by
lengthening or shortening the rod t (Figure 4) which operates the plate m.
For this purpose the rod is made in two parts the ends of which are screw
threaded with threads of different hands and connected by a nut; it will thus be
seen that by turning this nut in one or other direction the position of the plate m
may be varied, that is to say, the introduction can be increased or diminished. To
ensure the contact of the armature e with the two poles of the electro-magnet a at each
admission the electro-magnet will be slightly lifted by the armature to the extent,
say, of from a quarter to half a millimetre. To prevent the engine running at too
great a speed we employ the following arrangement which is very simple and has
for object to interrupt the current in the wire F (Figure 4) which establishes
communication with the commutator in order to send it to a closed circuit which,
by producing the disengagement of a counter-weight, will close the admission
valve.
On the sleeve 2 of the governor is fixed a small flat spring 3; during the
movement of the governor the end of this spring rubs lightly on the plane surface
of two metal plates 1, 2 fixed on an ivory plate 3, and separated one from the other
by a small space.
The ivory plate 3, is fixed on the framing of the governor at a suitable height in
order that at the moment the engine commences to race the spring t³ may be put in
contact with the plate 2.
This spring t³ is insulated from the sleeve on which it is fixed and communicates

page_text: with the positive pole of the electrical machine. The plate 1 communicates by
means of the conducting wire F with the commutator.
'The plate 2 communicates by means of the wire F' with an electro-magnet which,.
by its temporary magnetization, effects the disengagement of the counterweight and
thereby the closing of the admission valve; the other end of the wire which is
wound on the bobbins of the electro-magnet communicates with the negative pole
of the dynamo machine so as to constitute a closed circuit when the spring ³ is in
contact with the plate 2.
During the normal working of the engine the spring remains constantly in
contact with the plate 1 and the current is sent into the commutator.
If from any cause whatever the engine commences to race, the sleeve t² of the
governor is raised as well as the spring 3 which is put in contact with the plate 2:
and the current is then sent to the electro-magnet which will effect the closing of
the admission valve.
In the case where it would be necessary to stop the engine in the two extreme
positions of the governor we employ the arrangement shewn in Figure 5. The
plate 1 of the construction described with reference to Figure 4 is placed between.
two portions of the plate 2. When the spring 3 rubs upon the plate 1 the working
is normal, that is to say, the current passes from the spring t³ to F and thence to
the commutator. But if the governor races or falls to its lowest position the spring
rubs at the top or bottom of the plate 2 and the current passes from 3 to F¹.
In the diagrammatic view of the complete installation Figure 6, B indicates
the electro-magnet actuating the valve which admits steam into the general
passage.
Our electro-magnetic system of distributing steam is obviously applicable to all
kinds of distribution effected by flat or cylindrical slide valves or other valves,
modifications being made to suit the different applications, and it may even be used
for gas and petroleum motors.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In combination with an engine and its inlet valves, mechanical means for
opening said valves, electro-magnets mounted on stationary frames for holding such
valves open, and a commutator for breaking the electric circuits controlling said
magnets, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with an engine and its inlet valves, mechanical means for
opening said valves, electro-magnets mounted on stationary frames for holding such
valves open, and means actuated by the movement of the engine for breaking the
electric circuits controlling said magnets, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with an engine and its inlet valves, mechanical means actuated
by the engine for opening said valves, electro-magnets mounted on stationary
frames for holding the same open, and a commutator connected with the governor
of the engine for breaking the electric circuits controlling said magnets, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. The combination with an engine and its inlet valves, of an auxiliary shaft
as O, driven by the engine, cam mechanism actuated by such shaft and adjusted to
open the inlet valve, electro-magnets mounted on stationary frames holding such
valves open, and a commutator on said auxiliary shaft for breaking the electric
circuits controlling said magnets, substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with an engine and its inlet valves, means for opening said
valves, electro-magnets mounted on stationary frames for holding such valves open,
a commutator for intermittently breaking the electric circuits controlling said
magnets, and a switch actuated by the governor for cutting the commutator out of
circuit, substantially as set forth.
6. In combination with an engine and its inlet valves, means for opening said
valves, electro-magnets mounted on stationary frames for holding such valves open,

page_text: a commutator for intermittently breaking the electric circuits controlling said
magnets, and a switch actuated by the governor for shifting the current from the
commutator to a circuit controlling means for closing the admission valve, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated the 15th day of November 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.