Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Hydraulic or other Engines for Blowing Organ Bellows.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Hydraulic or
other Engines for Blowing Organ Bellows.
ALEXANDER MELVIN, 28 Charles Street, Saint Rollox, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanarkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
.:
The object of this invention is to provide an improved and easy method of starting
and stopping hydraulic engines for blowing organs particularly where the engines
are placed at some considerable distance from the keyboard of organ.
The apparatus consists First, of a valve on the inlet pipe leading to engine which is
opened or closed by the pressure of water derived from the inlet pipe itself. Second,
a three way cock which is attached to valve for controlling the opening and closing
of said valve, also a small air cylinder and piston which gives movement to the three
way cock. Third, a larger air cylinder and piston which is placed at or adjacent to
keyboard of organ, with a pneumatic tube connected between same and said small
cylinder. By moving the piston of larger air cylinder either by hand or other-
wise it is designed to control the opening and closing of inlet valve by means of the
intermediate smaller cylinder and three way cock.
The construction of the various parts indicated are hereby more particularly
described as follows viz. :-
.
The main inlet valve has a flat circular leather or other face, and closes on to its seat
against the water pressure. This valve has at its upper part a spindle to which is
fitted at suitable distances apart a small and also a large piston. The large piston is
placed on the spindle furthest from valve and is of greater area than valve, while the
small piston is nearest to and of about the same area as valve. The pistons work in
short cylinders formed in the casing which encloses the valve, and are made tight
with leather packings. The valve is closed by the water pressure passing through
the three way cock to top side of large piston and thus forces it against its seat.
The valve is likewise opened by turning round key of three way cock to a passage
which leads to waste pipe, thereby relieving the pressure behind large piston and
As soon as the valve is thus
allowing the valve to rise with the pressure under it.
more or less opened, the water pressure acts on the smaller piston and opens the valve
to its full extent.
The said three way cock is wrought by the piston of the small air cylinder before
mentioned by means of a lever and rod: This small air cylinder, likewise the larger
one at keyboard of organ is open at one end and closed at the other; the pneumatic
tube before mentioned being attached at the closed ends. When the larger piston is
pushed inwards the air is thereby compressed, and the smaller piston is moved outwards.
Or otherwise when the larger piston is drawn outwards à partial vacuum is formed
which moves the smaller piston inwards.
The object of making the piston at keyboard larger is to effect a larger cubic dis-
placement of air in this cylinder so as to compensate for any slight leakage of air
that may occur, and also to make the smaller piston respond more promptly to the
larger one.
;
Both pistons are designed to move full stroke each time and to effect this the smaller
piston has a relief valve which allows the larger one to continue moving to full stroke
after the smaller one has completed its stroke: The smaller piston has a small longi-
tudinal air passage passing right through it, also a narrow transversė slot in centre
or thereby of piston fitted with a flat leather valve covering said air passage within
the slot. When the piston is under compression the leather valve bears against and
closes the portion of air passage in piston leading outwards. The piston while under
1

page_text: "
On
compression moves outwards until the slot comes opposite a small hole in cylinder.
when the compression is at once relieved and the piston comes to a stand and remains
in that position although the larger piston at keyboard still continues to move.
the other hand when the smaller piston is under vacuum the leather valve in slot
closes that portion of air passage in piston leading inwards, the piston moving inwards
until the slot comes opposite the end of a longitudinal groove formed in the side of
cylinder, which groove extends to closed end of cylinder.
As soon as the slot comes up to this groove, air passes freely through the outer
portion of air passage in piston and along groove to back of piston, thus relieving
the vacuum and bringing the piston to a stand said piston remaining in that position
although the larger one at keyboard still continues to move.
Another modification of my improved apparatus consists in moving the three way
cock both ways by compression. In such an arrangement the large cylinder at key-
board of organ is closed at both ends, the piston being wrought by means of a rod
passing through a stuffing box. The three way cock is moved by two cylinders and
pistons, one piston to move it in one direction and the other to move it in the opposite
direction.
A pneumatic tube is connected between each of these small cylinders respectively
and both ends of the larger cylinder at keyboard of organ.
Dated this Second day of Anvil 1880
ALEXANDER MELVIN.
.
.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping and Starting Hydraulic or
other Engines for Blowing Organ Bellows.
ALEXANDER MELVIN of Saint Rollox Iron Works Charles Street Glasgow, in the
County of Lanarkshire, Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this Invention is to provide an improved and easy method of starting
and stopping hydraulic engines for blowing organs, particularly where the engines are
placed at some distance from keyboard of organ.
The apparatus consists, First:-of a valve on inlet pipe leading to engine, which
valve is opened or closed by the water derived from the inlet pipe itself. Second :-
of a supplementary three way cock for controlling the opening and closing of said
valve, also a pneumatic cylinder and piston for working said three way cock.
Third of a larger pneumatic cylinder and piston placed at or adjacent to keyboard
of organ, wrought by hand in the manner of a draw stop or otherwise for giving the
pneumatic power necessary to move the first pneumatic piston referred to.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended 2 sheets of drawings shewing 3 modifications under
which my Invention may be carried into practice, and in the Figures of which
corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Fig. 1 represents section of valve for opening or closing the water to engine.
Valve is placed on inlet pipe. A being inlet and B' outlet towards engine.
C.
Valve has a flat circular leather or other, face and closes against the water
pressure. Pistons c. and 9 on valve spindle are provided with cup leathers to prevent
water passing. c is nearly of the same area as d while gis of greater area., The
space e between pistons communicates to drain by waste pipe f. When three way
cock j is in the position as shewn, passages and communicate and allow the water
under pressure from A to pass to piston g.
Piston being of greater area than cor d, valve d therefore closes and shuts off the
water from engine. On the other hand when, three way cock is turned round so
as to open passages k to h, and close ; the water from, pistong passes, through
space e and out by waste pipe f. I

page_text: The pressure on piston g, and valve d being thereby relieved, valve d opens and
admits water to engine. As soon as the water is thus admitted, the pressure acting
on piston c opens valve d to its full extent. The speed at which d opens depends on
a fast or slow discharge past three way cock j; thus, if cock is slightly open d will
open slowly, or if cock is opened full, d will open quickly. Means are provided
for adjusting the travel of three way cock to suit any desired speed, to be hereafter
described..
Fig. 2 shows one modification of pneumatic apparatus for moving three way cock j.
Fig. 3 being end view of same. Cylinder E is fixed to organ case C at or adjacent
to keyboard so as F may be under the easy control of organist. Piston D is fitted as
air tight as possible to cylinder, and as a rod passing through cover H, terminating in
knob or handle F. The hole in cover H through which rod passes is larger in diameter
than rod, to allow the free ingress and egress of air in front of piston D when piston
is moved backwards and forwards. A pneumatic tube G. G. connects the closed end
of cylinder E with the closed end of cylinder L.
Cylinder L is fitted with piston I which piston works three way cock j by means of
levers and link rod t. Piston D is larger than I so as the former may produce a
larger displacement of air than is necessary to move the latter. The object of this is.
to compensate for any slight leakage of air past the pistons or otherwise and also to.
increase the power over the smaller piston so that it may respond more readily to the
larger one.
Piston D being larger than I it necessarily occurs that I will complete its stroke.
before D. To permit of D making its full stroke provision is made in the following
manner by means of which air is allowed to pass through piston I as soon as this
latter has completed its stroke. Piston I has a narrow transverse slot containing
leather valve m, which valve is slightly thinner than the width of slot, and of sufficient
length to cover two longitudinal air passages n and o. Cylinder L has small hole p
at its outer end and a groove formed at its inner end. When piston D is drawn
outwards a partial vacuum is formed in cylinder E which is communicated to
cylinder L by tube G. Piston I is thereby drawn inwards valve m at the same
time closing against passage o. Piston I continues to move until the transverse slot in
same reaches groove r; air is then drawn through passage n thence by slot and
groove to back of piston, thereby allowing D to complete its full stroke outwards.
Likewise when piston D is pushed inwards; piston I is forced outwards, m. closing
against air passage n. When transverse slot in I reaches hole p the compressed
air at once finds outlet through passage o and hole p thereby allowing D to complete
its full stroke inwards.
P
Piston I actuates spindle of cock j by means of lever 3. The short quadrant lever u
has a square hole in boss fitting square on spindle of cock j. Lever s is loose on said
spindle and is fixed to quadrant by adjusting-screw a. By means of quadrant u the
cock spindle can be set more or less round in relation to piston I thereby regulating
the speed at which valve (Fig. 1) opens. Another modification of pneumatic
piston for actuating three way cock is shewn at Fig. 4 in which piston I' has two air
passages n¹ and o' each leading from opposite ends of piston, and both terminating
within a recess formed on top of piston. These air passages are fitted with conical
valves and m³ respectively. When piston D (Fig. 2) is drawn outwards, piston I
moves inwards until recess in same reaches groove formed in cylinder, when the air
at once passes through a¹ and past valve l' to allow piston D to complete its full stroke.
Likewise when piston D is pushed inwards, piston I moves outwards until recess
reaches hole p' in cylinder when the air at once finds exhaust through passage o¹ and
valve m¹.
Fig. 5 represents another modification of pneumatic apparatus in which piston M
actuates piston I" both ways by compression. Piston M has rod N passing through
stuffing box P, and piston 1" has rod V passing. through stuffing box R.
Cylinders S and O are connected by air tubes T, T, T, T. When piston M is
moved outwards, piston I" is driven inwards until recess in same reaches groove
when the air at once finds its way through passage n' and valve to allow piston M

page_text: to complete its stroke. On the other hand when M is moved inwards, piston I¹¹ is
driven outwards until recess reaches groover when the air passes through o and m' to
allow M to complete its full stroke.
•
A slide valve may be employed instead of the three way cock referred to...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I have to state that I 'do
not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that
what I believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to me by
and in terms of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is
.1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
"apparatus for stopping and starting hydraulic engines for blowing organs substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. The combination of inlet valve with the supplementary three way cock or its
equivalent as herein before described and as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawings.
3. The method of applying pneumatic power to work the supplementary three way
cock on inlet valve substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The use in pneumatic apparatus constructed and operating in the manner above
referred to, of a large air piston actuating a smaller one, and of the means employed
to allow the larger piston to complete its full stroke after the smaller one has completed
its stroke, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The method of adjusting the opening and closing of supplementary three way
cock on inlet valve by means of quadrant lever as hereinbefore described and shewn
on Figures 2 and 3 of drawings annexed.
Dated this 31st day of January 1890.
ALEXANDER MELVIN.