Improvements in and relating to Steam Engine Indicators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Engine Indicators.
I, FREDERICK SARGENT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at
No. 13 Monadnock Block, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of
Illinois, one of the United States of America, 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:-
can
The objects of my invention are to arrange an indicator so that it be
brought into operation from a distance, and to arrange several indicators so that
they may be worked from a distance simultaneously and at the exact instant
desired, as will be hereinafter fully described.
It is often desirable to indicate at the same instant in several independent
cylinders, pumps, or like devices-for instance, in the case of a triple-expansion
engine with indicators placed on the ends of each cylinder.
Heretofore it has been practically impossible to bring into operation the several
indicators at exactly the same moment and for the same period of time, for each
indicator was separately controlled, and it was impossible for one or several
operators to work them all in exact harmony.
My invention provides a means whereby the recording device of an indicator
can be brought into operation from a distance, whereby the recording devices of
several indicators can be worked at the same instant, and whereby the time of
contact of the recording devices at each indicator can be made of exactly the same
duration, and whereby one person can control by a single operation the contact
of the recording devices of all the indicators.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of oue well-known form of indicator and
recorder with my improvement embodied therein; and
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the operating-magnet, showing a retracting-
spring for the armature.
1 is a steam-cylinder, in which is a piston connected with rod 2, pivoted to the
arm carrying the marking point or stylus D, which is fulcrumed in the ordinary
way, as shown in the drawings.
3 is a cylinder, which may be made to revolve, preferably, by a connection with
the piston in the usual manner, and which carries a card or paper forming the
recording-surface for the pencil D. The groove around cylinder 3 above the
supporting-bracket is intended for the reception of a cord, the free end of which
will be connected directly or indirectly to the piston of the engine. By moving
the cylinder by the engine, instead of by an independent motor, it is evident that
the condition of the steam at any particular portion of the stroke can be recorded,
since the movement of the recording surface corresponds exactly to that of th:
piston.
Near the top of the steam-cylinder is an encircling sleeve 4, upon an extension
on which is supported the rod 5, forming the fulcrum of the pencil carrying lever.
On the opposite side of said sleeve 4 is an extension E, which carries an
armature B, adjustable to or from the magnet by means of the supporting-screw,
which passes through extension E. The sleeve above referred to turns loosely 0:1
the cylinder, and as the sleeve turns in one direction or the other, the pencil D is
raised from or moved onto the recording-surface. A is an electro-magnet mounted
upon or adjacent to the frame of the indicator with its pole in proximity to the
armature B. This magnet is in a circuit including a battery H, extending to any
suitable circuit-controller K, from which point it is desired to control the recorder.

page_text: An operator at K by closing the key can at any instant energize the magnet,
thereby attracting the armature, turning the sleeve 4, and moving the pencil onto
the recording-surface, where it will remain as long as the circuit is held closed,
thus making a mark, due to the movement of the recording-surface and to the
movement of the pencil due to variations of pressure in cylinder 1, as is well
understood. As soon as the circuit is broken a spring or other suitable device
draws or forces the armature back to its original position. Fin Figure 2 is a
spring for this purpose. It is shown attached at the rear of the magnet and
extending through the core thereof, its end bearing against the armature.
spring is strong enough to overcome the friction of the sleeve 4, and to turn the
same, thereby raising and holding the pencil from the paper and preventing false
marks. The sleeve may be turned by hand at any time to raise or lower the
stylus, if desired.
This
Thus far I have described the construction and operation of a single indicator ;
but I propose to place several indicators in series or in multiple are in the same
circuit for the purpose of controlling them simultaneously, and in Figure 11 have
diagrammatically indicated such an arrangement. At 6 is a second indicator,
preferably like that above described, and like parts are correspondingly lettered.
The magnet A is directly in series with magnet A, and when energized attracts
the armature B', drawing the pencil D' against the recording surface. At 7 is
another apparatus of the same character in a multiple-arc branch, which branch is
provided with a switch whereby the apparatus can be thrown into or out of
circuit.
While I have described one form of indicator and recorder, it should be
understood that I do not limit myself to this form, since the invention does not
reside in a particular indicator and recorder, but in an arrangement of devices for
operating any similar indicator or series of indicators. Neither do I confine
myself to the exact arrangement of circuits which I have shown and described,
since they may be modified largely without departing from the spirit of my
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 combination of two or more indicators the recording-surfaces of which
are moved by the engine or apparatus to which the indicators are attached, with
electro-magnets for controlling the contact between the recording-surface and
stylus and a single circuit embracing all of said magnets, substantially as described.
2. The combination, in an indicator and recorder, of a cylinder the pressure in
which controls the position in one direction of a recording-stylus, a movable
recording-surface, a loose sleeve supporting the stylus-carrying arm, and an
armature, and a magnet supported adjacent to said armature and included in a
circuit, substantially as described.
3. The combination, in an indicator and recorder, of a cylinder the pressure in
which controls the position in one direction of a recording-stylus, a movable
recording-surface, a loose sleeve supporting the stylus-carrying arm and an
armature, a magnet supported adjacent to said armature and included in a circuit,
and a spring for retracting the armature, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of February 1804
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.