IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND MOTION OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hughes, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND
CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND MOTION OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hughes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1876.
HENRY HUGHES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND MOTION OF
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
My Invention has for its object preventing a locomotive engine from exceeding a
given maximum speed, so that when that speed is attained, should there be a
temporary acceleration the motion of the engine shall be either promptly arrested or
retarded until the speed is reduced to the required maximum, and it consists in the
combination with a locomotive engine of a peculiar arrangement of apparatus
whereby on the given maximum being exceeded a brake will be applied to the
wheels and the steam be cut off automatically; the apparatus is however also
capable of being worked by hand when required, and thus employed either as an
auxiliary to or in substitution for the ordinary screw brake.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a steam brake cylinder, having fitted
therein a piston which is connected with a rocking shaft for acting through the
intervention of levers or other suitable devices upon the wheel brakes, and is also
arranged in connection with the regulator handle for controlling the admission of
steam to the engine cylinders in such a manner that when the brake piston is
operated by the admission of steam into its cylinder as herein-after described, the
brakes shall be applied to the wheels and the steam shall be simultaneously cut off
from the engine cylinders.
The supply of steam to the brake cylinder is controlled by preference by means of
a three-way valve or cock, arranged in connection with three pipes or passages, one
of which is employed for the introduction of steam to the valve chamber, another
for conducting it thence into the brake cylinder and for returning the exhaust steam

page_text: therefrom, whilst the third pipe or passage is intended for conveying away the
exhaust steam so returned. On the spindle of this valve or cock, which is continued
to both ends of the engine, there are mounted handles for the facility of turning the
same by manual power when required, and also a projection whereby it is operated
automatically in the manner next herein-after described.
The automatic apparatus consists of a governor driven from one of the axles of
the engine and arranged in conjunction with a throttle valve in such a manner that
when the maximum speed to which the apparatus is set (and which may be varied
as required) is exceeded, steam shall be admitted below or behind a plunger piston
or valve, which shall thereby be caused to act upon the projection before mentioned
and turn the valve or cock so as to bring the same into the position for the
admission of steam to the brake cylinder, whereby the brakes will be put on the
wheels and the steam will be simultaneously cut off from the engine cylinders as
before mentioned, the motion of the engine being thereby either promptly arrested
or retarded until the speed is reduced to the required maximum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th April
1877.
HENRY HUGHES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND MOTION OF
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
My said Invention has for its object preventing a locomotive engine from
exceeding a given maximum speed, so that when that speed is attained, should there
be a temporary acceleration the motion of the engine shall be either promptly
arrested or retarded until the speed is reduced to the required maximum, and it
consists in the combination with a locomotive engine of a peculiar arrangement of
apparatus whereby on the given maximum being exceeded a brake will be applied
to the wheels and the steam be cut off automatically; the apparatus is however also
capable of being worked by hand when required, and thus employed either as an
auxiliary to or in substitution for the ordinary screw brake.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall proceed to
particularly describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the annexed
Drawing, which represents a sectional elevation of the apparatus detached from the
engine.
In carrying out my said Invention I employ a steam brake cylinder A, having
fitted therein a piston B which is connected with a rocking shaft C for acting
through the intervention of levers D or other suitable devices upon the wheel brakes
(not shewn in the Figure) and is also arranged in connection with the regulator
handle E for controlling the admission of steam to the engine cylinders in such a
manner that when the brake piston B is operated by the admission of steam into its
cylinder A as hercin-after described, the brakes shall be applied to the wheels and
the steam shall be simultaneously cut off from the engine cylinders.
The supply of steam to the brake cylinder A is controlled by preference by means
of a three-way valve or cock F, arranged in connection with three pipes or
passages G, H, I, one of which viz., that G is employed for the introduction of steam
to the valve chamber K, another H for conducting it thence into the brake
cylinder A, and for returning the exhaust steam therefrom, whilst the third pipe or
passage I is intended for conveying away the exhaust steam so returned. On the
spindle L of this valve or cock, which is continued to both ends of the engine, there
are mounted handles (not shewn in the Drawing) for the facility of turning the
same by manual power when required, and also a projection M whereby it is
operated automatically in the manner next herein-after described,

page_text: The automatic apparatus consists of a governor N driven by the aid of gearing O
and a belt and pulley (one of which is shewn at P) from one of the axles of the
engine and arranged in conjunction with a throttle valve Qin such a manner that
when the maximum speed to which the apparatus is set (and which may be varied
as required) is exceeded, steam conducted from the boiler by the pipe Q'shall be
admitted below or behind a plunger piston or valve R which shall thereby be caused
to act upon the projection M, and turn the valve or cock F from the position shewn
by dotted lines to that indicated by full lines in the Drawing for the admission of
steam to the brake cylinder A, whereby the brakes will be put on the wheels and
the steam will be simultaneously cut off from the engine cylinders as before
mentioned, the motion of the engine being thereby either promptly arrested or
retarded until the speed is reduced to the required maximum.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, preventing a locomotive engine from permanently
exceeding a given maximum speed, by the employment in combination with a steam
brake cylinder or cylinders, the piston or pistons of which are arranged in connection
with the wheel brakes and with the gear for controlling the supply of steam to the
engine cylinders, of a valve or cock for regulating the supply of steam to the brake
cylinder or cylinders capable of being operated by hand, and also automatically
under the action of a governor driven from the wheels of the engine and arranged in
such a manner that on the speed being temporarily accelerated, steam shall be
caused to actuate the valve or cock for the admission of steam to the brake cylinder
or cylinders, whereby the brakes will be applied and the steam will be simul-
taneously cut off from the engine cylinders, and the motion of the engine arrested or
retarded until the speed is reduced to the required maximum, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hughes, have to this my Specification set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY HUGHES. (L.S.)