Improvements in Supporting Mechanism for Valve Stems and other like Moving Rods.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in Supporting Mechanism for Valve Stems and other
like Moving Rods.
1, EDWIN PEAR MONROE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,
in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Mechanical
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 :-
My invention relates to supporting mechanism for the class of reciprocating rods
which are liable to become worn, weakened, and deformed by friction; such, for
example, as the valve stems of locomotive engines, etc. Such wearing and weakening
sometimes results in bending, buckling, or breaking of valve stems, or in their
springing out of alignment under strain, so as not to properly operate the valves.
The object of my invention is to prevent all wear upon such valve stems or rods,
and to provide means for reducing the wear of their supporting mechanism to the
minimum, and for compensating for such minimum wear by adjustments and
movements of parts, as hereinafter explained. The result is not only to secure the
proper movement and action of valves, but also to prevent injury to valve packings
of whatever character by keeping the valve-rod in proper alignment, as originally
placed.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing one form of embodiment of
my improved valve stem supporting mechanism, together with so much of ordinary
connected parts, packing, etc., as necessary for illustration.
Fig. 2 is a section at right angles with Fig. 1, taken on the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 to 16 inclusive, (except Figs. 13 and 14, which are mere diagrams
indicating two forms in which track-bars may be made) are similar views, the
odd numbered figures being longitudinal vertical sections, and the even numbered
figures being cross-sections; each two figures on each sheet showing embodiments
of my invention differing in minor details from Figs. 1 and 2, and from each other.
Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are vertical longitudinal sections of other forms of
embodiment of my invention.
Referring to the letters upon the drawings, in aid of a description in detail of the

page_text: several forms of embodiment of my improvements, A, in all the figures, indicates a
valve stem; B, valve-stem packing mechanism which may be such as shown or
of any other suitable character; C, a valve-stem carriage or support; D, a track
or supporting bar for the carriage; E, an anti-friction bearing, preferably of Babbitt-
metal, between the carriage and its track or supporting bar; and F (except in
Fig. 18, where none is shown) adjusting mechanism for the supporting bar or
track.
From this outline of my improvements, it will be perceived that I provide, in
combination with a valve-stem, a carriage of varying form for directly supporting the
stem, and an adjustable track or supporting bar of varying form for the carriage.
I also use an anti-friction bearing, preferably of Babbitt-metal, between the carriage
and its supporting track, but the anti-friction bearing is only preferable as a rule
in practice, and is not an essential part of my invention.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, G indicates a screw bolt or set-screw for securing
the carriage firmly to the valve stem, as illustrated, so that the carriage and stem,
being set in proper relations to each other, always move together. In this instance
the carriage is a short pillar or block bored at the top to admit the valve stem, and at
the bottom to admit the track or supporting bar, both of which, as illustrated,
are cylindrical. The Babbitt-metal anti-friction bearing, in this instance, is a hollow
cylinder shouldered into the lower opening in the carriage, as shown. The adjusting
mechanism in this instance consists of a screw-threaded stem or shank H upon the
end of the supporting bar which passes through a slot or opening in a lug or
projection I depending from the packing case K.
Lock nuts M and N by clamping action hold the track-bar firmly in place. By
loosening these nuts the track-bar may be adjusted up or down; or it may be
rotated more or less. The result is that the wear of the track-bar at a given point,
and the wear of the Babbitt-metal cylindrical bearing correspondingly, may each be
compensated for by rotating the track-bar and adjusting it vertically at will. The
carriage may be removed by unscrewing the bolt G and slipping it off the stem and
track, proper joints or connections, which are not illustrated, of ordinary character
being provided. The carriage being removed may be re-bushed or lined with
Babbitt-metal and replaced again in position.
Only so much of the connected parts as are absolutely necessary to show the
relations of my improvements in these figures and in all the figures are illustrated.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the carriage and track-bar are
in reverse position as compared with Figs. 1 and 2; that is to say, they are placed
above the valve-stem, so that the carriage and stem depend from the track-bar.
In this instance, also, it will be observed that the track-bar is composed of two parts,
one a hollow cylinder O bored out at the bottom to admit a counter-sunk headed
bolt P which forms its stem or shank. In other respects Figs. 3 and 4 are similar to
Figs. 1 and 2.
Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be observed that the supporting shank Q of
the track-bar, which is a hollow cylinder, is at right angles with the track-bar, so as
to accommodate a different structure of the connected parts of an engine and yet
secure the proper vertical adjustments for compensating wear.
The shank may
be integral with, or a separate piece fixed to the track-bar.
Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that a shoulder R is formed on the
valve stem by turning down a portion of it and reducing its diameter, and the carriage
is secured to it by a nut upon the threaded turned-down portion of the stein. It will
also be observed that the shank of the track-bar rests upon an adjacent portion of the
structure of the enginé, and is adjusted up and down by means of bolts and nuts and
thin plates or liners S. It will also be observed that the lower part of the carriage is
composed of two parts slightly separated and secured in place by bolts T and nuts U.
The nuts can be screwed up or unscrewed at pleasure so as to make the lower part of
the carriage bear properly at all points upon the cylindrical track-bar to keep
the carriage from jumping or being unseated. It will also be observed that the
Babbitt-metal bushing is made thicker above, where most wear comes, than below.

page_text: Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the only peculiarities that need be pointed out
are the facts that the upper part as well as the lower part of the carriage is made
of two pieces clamped together around the valve stem by bolts and nuts in the
manner just described, and as will be obvious from the drawing; and that the
carriage is divided in the middle and provided with projections V, V, each of which
has an elongated slot, the two being clamped together by means of a bolt and nut, us
shown. This gives an additional vertical adjustment, so that in this instance the
carriage is composed of four parts bolted together adjustably. For greater strength
the upper and and lower parts of the carriage are united by a mortise and tenon,
as indicated in dotted lines at W.
Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the track-bar is shown as having concave
surfaces, and the Babbitt-metal of the carriage is correspondingly convex. The
carriage is in two parts bolted together so as to provide an upper and lower bearing
surface upon the track to prevent the carriage from being thrown up or unseated.
These figures present only a formal variation of Fig. 1, for example.
Figs. 13 and 14 being mere outlines need not be further described.
Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16, it will be observed that the track or supporting
bar is a hollow cylinder within which the valve stem is supported and works upon
the carriage and anti-friction bearing. Here I also use a concave instead of a convex
bearing surface on the track, and a convex bearing surface on the carriage. The
details of construction of this form of embodiment of my invention are, so far as they
are peculiar and not heretofore described, as follows:-
✗ indicates a cylindrical shell or sleeve, preferably of steel, surrounding the
valve-stem and screw-threaded at Y, where it is united to the hollow cylindrical
carriage provided with a hollow cylindrical Babbitt-metal bearing. At the opposite
end of the sleeve X is brazed on to it, or otherwise firmly secured, a metal ring Z.
Through this ring, and through the shell, passes a screw-bolt or set-screw a impinging
against the valve-stem and serving to hold the sleeve and stem firmly together, whereby
the carriage and Babbitt-metal bearing are united to the stem through the instru-
mentality of the sleeve, as will appear plain from an inspection of Fig. 15. b indicates
a vent composed of a small tube screwed into the hollow cylindrical track. The
track is adjustable vertically, in this instance, by means of a slotted plate c and
screw-bolts d clamping it to the valve packing case, as will be understood without
further description.
Referring now to Fig. 17, the supporting-bar is shown Babbitted its entire length,
and the bar is adjustable in a manner already described. In this instance the Babbitt
metal is stationary and secured to the track instead of to the carriage. An internally
screw-threaded ring 9 may be secured by brazing, or otherwise, within one end of the
cylindrical carriage and screws upon the reduced threaded end of the valve stem.
This secures the carriage firmly to the stem; but the internally screw-threaded ring
might be dispensed with, although it furnishes a good method of securing the carriage
and stem together.
Referring now to Fig. 18, there is also shown the Babbitt-metal stationary within
the hollow cylindrical track-bar. The hollow cylindrical carriage is internally screw-
threaded at s where it screws on to the stem without the interposition of the internally
screw-threaded ring just above described. This form is applicable in new engines or
where there is sufficient enlargement to allow the stem to be screw-threaded at its
junction with the yoke.
Referring now to Fig. 19, it shows a structure of similar nature to that shown in
Figs. 15 and 16, but differing in the method of attaching the carriage to the valve
stein. This form may be employed on valve stems which have a joint or hinge to
fasten them to the connecting rod, which joint has so little clearance between it and
the face of the stuffing-box that there is not room for the device shown in Fig. 15.
In this instance the carriage is made to abut against a shoulder e on the stem, and is
held in place by a hinge coupling nut. As valve stems having such joints require
double support, I insert a cylindrical track-bar and Babbitt-metal bushing into the
bottom of the stuffing-box, as shown at g, and protect the stem from wear by a

page_text: cylindrical carriage, as shown at the right hand side of this figure, which is secured
to the stem by means of a thimble-nut h, and a bolt i passing through an arm j
connected with or projecting from the yoke, not illustrated.
Referring now to Fig. 20, a valve stem is shown which has a joint that travels into
the hollow cylindrical supporting har. The carriage in this instance has an internal
scrow-thread into which is screwed the threaded joint or hinge piece k as illustrated.
This piece also screws over the reduced end of the stem. The support of the stem
at the opposite end is obtained by the use of a horn / formed on the yoke m
which horn works into a hollow cylindrical track or supporting bar screw-threaded
at both ends for attachment to an adjustable plate bolted to the steam-chest, and
for receiving a cap n.
The horn is turned down and shouldered at o to receive
a Babbitted carriage, as shown, and is provided with a threaded end to receive a
nut p, which secures the carriage in place. I thus provide, as illustrated in Fig. 20,
for supporting each end of the valve-stem adjustably by means of a carriage and
track-bar, so that each end of the stem is absolutely protected against any wear
whatever, and the wear upon the carriage, or its Babbitt-metal lining, and upon the
track-bar can be compensated for by adjustment and turning of the track-bar or
carriage if need be; whereby the stem may always be kept centered so as to
cause the least possible wear or disturbance of the packing around the stem, and
to operate the yoke and valves with precision and the best results.
From the foregoing illustrations it will be apparent that my invention, in its
broadest aspect, is capable of being applied to various sorts of engines, both old
and new.
Other forms of track may be used, and varying formal modifications of parts may
be made without departing from the substance of my invention. The formal variations
shown illustrate some of the modifications that are convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is―
1. The combination with a valve stem or rod, of a carriage for the stem and an
adjustable supporting bar or track supporting the weight of the carriage and one end
of the stem, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a valve-stem or rod, of a carriage for the stem and a
vertically adjustable supporting bar or track for the carriage, which bar is also
adapted to be rotated more or less to compensate for wear, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a valve-stem or rod, of a carriage for the stem, and a
hollow adjustable supporting bar or track for the carriage provided with a threaded
bolt, of a separate piece of metal forming a stem for adjustment of the track,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a valve stem or rod, of a carriage for the stem, and a
track or supporting bar for the carriage, provided with a shank for supporting and
adjusting the track, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a valve-stem, of a carriage for the stem, and a supporting
bar or track for the carriage, composed of two or more parts bolted together adjustably
between the track and valve-stem, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with a valve-stem, of a hollow carriage, and a hollow supporting
bar or track, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the valve-stem and its packing, and the carriage and
adjustable track at one end, with the yoke and its horn, and a carriage and adjustable
track for the horn, substantially as set forth.
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