Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Temperature of the water used in Cooling the Cylinders of Gas and Oil Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th O t., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of the water used in Cooling the Cylinders of Gas
and Oil Engines.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At present with the "Stockport" and other gas and oil engines, using water as
a cooling agent for the cylinders, it is usual to supply the water from circulating
tanks, the water in which is not allowed to rise above a certain temperature. To
prevent the water rising above this certain defined temperature, it is usual to
employ a man to withdraw off some of the heated water to be replaced by cold
water or to turn on a fresh supply of cold water. With this method, as the man
is not always at hand or is not attentive, much loss of effective work of the engine
is sustained, and also, at times, the engine is damaged, through being allowed to
overheat itself.
My invention is designed to render such regulation of the temperature auto-
matic, by using an apparatus which will regulate the inflow or outflow of the water
to or from the tanks.
In carrying out my invention, I fit into one of the water tanks or into or
around the water jacket of the cylinder, a worm, coil of piping or a number of
pipes or tubes, or the equivalent of either of these, which piping contains a
Huid sensitive to and expanding and contracting greatly under changes of
temperature. The piping communicates, preferably, with a syphonal arrange-
ment, having mercury therein or its equivalent, and in which works a float
or piston. The float or piston has its piston rod connected, directly or
indirectly, to the plug or key of either the outflow or inflow cock from or to
the tanks. The piston rod is, preferably, connected to the outflow cock, in
which case the inflow cock is automatically opened and closed by means of a
ball or float valve. The piston may be packed with mercury or with other
suitable packing.
With this apparatus should the temperature of the water in the tanks rise, at
any time, above a certain fixed temperature, say 140°, the expansion of the
sensitive fluid in the piping, forces up the mercury in the syphon and consequently
also the piston and piston rod, which latter is so connected to the outflow valve
key or plug as to open it by its movement upwards and thus run off the hot
water, which, by the action of the inflow ball valve, is replaced by a fresh
supply of cold water. When the temperature falls again, through the influx of
cold water, the outflow is gradually cut off by the falling of the piston in the
syphon. The handle of the valve may be weighted to assist this movement.
In case the temperature rises very high, through some abnormal conditions, it is
advisable to have a device to prevent such abnormal rise of temperature from
doing injury to the automatic regulator. For this purpose, the piston rod may be
made with a spiral spring at its upper part, which is or may be connected to the
lever for turning the plug or key of the outflow valve. This spring will serve as
a cushion and allow the piston to rise after the cock or valve has been fully
opened, or to effect the same purpose, the lever on the cock or valve may be
slotted and so bent that the pin on the piston rod, which pin runs in the slot,
can travel upwards without turning the lever, after the cock or valve is fully
opened.
The syphonal arrangement may be dispensed with, if so desired, and the sensitive
L

page_text: The several parts of the apparatus.are so made in conformity with one another
as to give the desired results.
Dial
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.
.COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of the Water used in Cooling the Cylinders of Gas
and Oil Engines.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., 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:-
At present with the "Stockport" and other gas and oil engines, using water as a
cooling agent for the cylinders, it is usual to supply the water from circulating
tanks, the water in which is not allowed to rise above a certain temperature. To
prevent the water rising above this certain defined temperature it is usual to
employ a man to draw off some of the heated water to be replaced by cold water
or to turn on a fresh supply of cold water. With this method, as the man is not
always at hand, or is not attentive, much loss of effective work of the engine is
sustained, and also, at times, the engine is damaged through being allowed to
overheat itself.
My invention is designed to render such regulation of the temperature auto-
matic, by using an apparatus which will regulate the inflow or outflow of the water
to or from the tanks.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon
Fig. 1, is a part sectional elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a cross section on the line x-x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged sectional detail.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate similar or like parts.
The regulating apparatus consists of a number of tubes a which are connected
together by end tubes or boxes b, b. The tubes a and b, b' form a sort of "grid-
iron" arrangement which is, preferably, inserted into one of the water tanks of
the gas or oil engine. c is a filling cock through which, preferably, a mixture
of salt and water is poured into the "grid-iron" arrangement of tubes. The
salt and water is sensitive to and expands and contracts under changes of
temperature.
Screwed into the "grid-iron " is a long tube or cylinder d which is open at both
ends. The cylinder or tube may be held in place, at its upper end, by means of a
bracket. e. The "gridiron " may likewise be secured in place by means of lugs f
and screws 9. The apparatus is, preferably, secured to the side, of the water tank
or to a board z inserted in the tank. Fitted in the cylinder or tube d is a piston h
formed by two cup leathers i, i which are held in place, on the lower end of the
piston rod j, by means of washers k, l, l' and screw m. n is a collar which is secured
on the piston rod j by a pin o shown dotted. The upper end of the piston rod j
has fitted loosely on it a cross bar p. The cross bar has two projections or
arms p', pon which are secured, by the screws p³, two small rollers p',p (see
Fig. 3). The rollers p, p run in slots g, or their equivalent, made in the arms or
levers, The arms or levers r, are connected together by or are made in one
piece with a ferrule or sleeve s. The ferrule or sleeves is fitted loosely on a pro-
jecting pin or stud t which is made with a broad flange t'. The pin t is secured to
the wall or side of the tank, or to the board carrying the apparatus, by means of

page_text: in
the flange t'. is a washer and t³ a nut for holding the ferrules and levers,
place on the pin t. Projecting from the ferrule or sleeve s is an arm o which has
secured to it, at its lower end, by a pin o², a lever w. The lever wis connected to
and operates either the cock for controlling the inflow of cold water to the tank or
to the cock for controlling the outflow of hot water from the tank. The double
levers, and the lever turn on the pint as a centre.
Carried on the of the double lever r,
place by the screw of by pins, ., x².
is a weight
y is a supporting bracket for the double weighted lever r,
bracket for the piston rod j.
which is secured in
whilst u is a guide
It will be observed that the inclined slots q are bent to the horizontal at their
lower ends.
The lever w is preferably connected to the cock for controlling the outflow of hot
water from the tank. In this case the inflow cock is automatically opened and
closed by means of a ball or float valve.
The inflow cock is closed when the levers r, r,
shown in full lines.
and ware in the positions
"
With this apparatus immediately the temperature of the water in the tanks
begins to increase, the expansion of the sensitive mixture or fluid in the "gridiron
forces up the piston h and piston rod j until, ultimately, the collar n reaches the
cross bar p and begins to lift or move said cross bar upwards. The forcing up of
the cross bar p gradually raises or moves upwards the double lever r, r', and
thereby, as a consequence, moves the levers and w and gradually opens the
outflow cock or valve so that the heated water is run off, and, as the level of the
water sinks in the tank, the action of the float valve admits cold water so as to
reduce the temperature. When the levers r, reach the position indicated in
dotted lines the outflow cock is fully opened. It will be noted that the projections
or arins of the cross bar p do not require to pass out of the lower curved parts of
the slots to fully open the outlet valve. When the temperature falls again,
through the influx of cold water to the tank, the sensitive fluid in the "gridiron
contracts, and, as a consequence, the piston / sinks in the tube d. The sinking of
the piston permits the weight to exert its influence and gradually bring down
the double lever r, to the position shown in full lines so as to cut off the outflow
and stop further supply of cold water.
"
With this arrangement the regulation is automatic and the temperature of the
water is maintained at a pretty constant heat for, as soon as the temperature of the
water reaches a certain point above the normal, the outflow valve is gradually
opened and cold water is allowed to flow into the tank in order to reduce the tem-
perature and bring it back to the normal. The apparatus is, preferably, so made
that the temperature, in the tanks, is at 125° F., when the collar n strikes against
the cross bar p, and, when the cross-bar is forced round to the lower end of the
straight part of the slots, see the dotted lines, the temperature has risen 10°
i.e. to 135° F.
The temperature of the water seldom or ever rises above the limit of 135° but
in case it should rise very high, through some abnormal conditions, it is advisable
to have a device to prevent such abnormal rise of temperature from doing injury
to the automatic regulator, for this purpose the lever, is made with the long
inclined slot 9. The long slot g allows the pins or projections p¹ or the cross bar
to go on travelling up to the top of the slots, after the outflow valve has been
fully opened, without turning the levers r, r, from the position shown in dotted
lines. The straight part of the slots is usually made long enough to allow a further
rise of 20°, i.e. up to 155° F. The slots may, however, be made longer.
Instead of having a double lever r,r' a single lever may be used. I however
prefer to use a double lever as it gives a much steadier action and permits a freer
movement of the cross bir p.
Instead of using a "gridiron" arrangement a worm or coil may be used in lieu
thereof.

page_text: The construction of the parts of the apparatus may be modified without departing
from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :---
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the apparatus for
automatically regulating the temperature of the water ised for cooling the
cylinders of gas or oil engines, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
2. The application and use in combination with a gas or oil engine of an
apparatus for automatically regulating the temperature of the water used for
cooling the cylinders, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dend shin ash d
T11000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.