Improvements in and connected with Starting-gears for Compound-locomotives.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Starting-gears for
Compound-locomotives.
I, ROBERT LINDNER of 58 Aeussere Dresdener Strasse of Chemnitz, in the
Kingdom of Saxony, Civil 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 :-
This invention refers to starting-gears for compound-locomotives, and my
improvements in gears of this type consist in some novel arrangements and
combinations of parts, as will now be more fully described hereinafter.
The main form of construction of my improved starting-gear is represented in
Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings, in which H is the high-pressure-
cylinder, P the piston of the same, L the low-pressure-cylinder, and P₁ the piston
of the same.
S is the slide-valve of the cylinder H, and S' the slide-valve of the
cylinder L. P2 is a piston-valve fixed to the rod R of the slide-valve S', and
having an annular recess or groove g; said valve P 2 moves in the casing C. The
latter is connected by a pipe p with the high-pressure steam-chest. If by a pipe pl
with the middle portion of the high-pressure cylinder H, by a pipe p2 with the
middle portion of the low-pressure cylinder L, and by a channel c with the low-
pressure steam-chest L. c'e 2 designate the inlet channels, or outlet-channels
respectively, of the cylinder H; R' is the receiver pipe between the cylinders HL,
and c3 c4 are the inlet-channels, or outlet-channels respectively, of the cylinder L.
c5c6 are two small channels provided in the seat of the slide-valve S.
In order to make the manner of operation of my improved starting-gear as clear
as possible, I have shown the movable parts of the same not only in one position,
but in three different ones.
Concerning the position represented in Figure 1, the live-steam, or high-pressure
steam respectively, flows from the high-pressure steam-chest H through the
channel into the high-pressure cylinder H, thus driving the piston Pin the
direction of the arrow 6. The exhaust steam passing through between the piston P
and the inner wall of the cylind H flows through the channel e 2, the slide-valve S,
and the receiver-pipe R' into the low-pressure steam-chest L', and from thence
through the channel the groove g of the piston-valve P 2, and the pipe 2 into the
low-pressure cylinder L, thus driving the piston in the direction of the arrow 7.
Both the pistons are thus acted on by live-steam, the steam acting upon the
piston having, however, a lower tension than the live-steam proper acting upon
the piston P.
"
When the position of the slide-valve S' has become such, that the channel c4 is
connected with the waste-port w, the exhaust steam flowing through the pipe p2
into the cylinder L is allowed to escape through said waste-port w, so that it is
hindered from exerting any back-pressure upon the piston P. Simultaneously with
the opening of the channel c3 occurs the disconnection of the channel e and the
ipe p 2.
Concerning the position represented in Fig. 2, the live-steam, or high-pressure
steam respectively, flows from the high-pressure steam-thest through the channel c²
into the high-pressure cylinder H, thus driving the piston P in the direction of the
Arrow S. The exhaust steam passing through between the piston P and the inner
wall of the cylinder H flows through the channel c2, the slide-valve S, and the
receiver-pipe R¹ into the low-pressure steam-chest, and from thence through
he channel 3 into the low-pressure cylinder L, thus driving the piston P¹ in

page_text: the direction of the arrow 9. This occurs during the time elapsing from the
commencement of the opening of the channel c3 up to the termination of the
closing of the channel
When said closing is perfected, the piston H has moved somewhat to the right
beyond its middle position, or beyond the end of the pipe respectively, and
simultaneously therewith the piston-valve P 2 has been moved to the right as far as
to establish a connection between the pipes and p; the high-pressure steam flows
also then from the high-pressure steam-chest to the high-pressure cylinder, but its
way is formed by the pipe, the groove g, and the pipe p'. The position of the
slirte-valve S is then such, that one of the two small channels 5c 6 is situated directly
above the one of the channels c' e 2, and there flows during that time exhaust steam
as well as live-steam through the receiver-pipe R into the low-pressure cylinder L,
the exhaust steam passing through the channel c 6, the live-steam through the
channel c 5.
Concerning the position represented in Fig. 3, the live-steam, or high-pressure
steam respectively, flows from the high-pressure steam-chest through the pipe p,
the groove g, and the pipe p into the high pressure cylinder H, thus driving the
piston P in the direction of the arrow 10; the live steam flows als through the
channel c', the slide valve S and the receiver-pipe R into the low-pressure steam-
chest, and from thence through the channel 3 into the cylinder L, so that the
piston P is also acted on by auxiliary steam.
In the form oft construction shown in Figs. 1-3 the piston-valve P 2 is the only
means for opening and closing the pipes p, pl and p2; the various actions above
described will thus be repeated after the locomotive-engine has been started.
Said actions will be repeated, however, only up to a certain speed, a speed slower
than that which the locomotive-engine is intended normally to perform. This is
brought about by a suitable section of the auxiliary pipes p, p₁ and p 2, which latter
are so proportioned as to binder a sufficiently quick motion of the steam when the
velocity of the gear is normal. As soon as the normal speed has been reached, the
engine will work as a true compound-engine. If, however, it is desired, to work
after the compound principle instantly after the engine is started, I make use of a
double cock D, Figs. 4 and 44, the plug of which is provided with two pairs of
crossed channels, and with a crank c7. The cock is opened, if said crank is in
either of the positions I II, but is closed if the said crank is in the position III.
It will be clear without explanation, that the engine after being started will work
on the compound principle as soon as said cock D has been closed.
In many cases the auxiliary live-steam may be led into the low pressure valve-
chest L', Figure 5, instead of directly into the low-pressure cylinder L; and
further, the exhaust steam may simply be let off through the waste-port w.
Instead of making use of a piston-valve, such as P2, Figs. 1-4, I employ in this
form of construction (Figure 5) a slide S 2 fixed to the low-pressure slide-valve S¹;
said slide is provided with two projections, and with a groove situated between said
projections: these parts co-operate with the pipes pp2 in just the same manner, as
described with regard to the piston-valve P 2, Figs. 1-4. Each of said two pipes
is furnished with a cock (D' D2) of its own, which however, are coupled with
each other.
The main points of my invention are, first, facilitating the starting by leading
live-steam into one or both the cylinders also during those periods in which normally
the expansion of the steam occurs; second, keeping the receiver-pipe free of pressure
during the first part of the stroke of the low-pressure piston; and third, using the
exhaust steam of the high-pressure cylinder for driving the piston of the low-pressure
cylinder, as atore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a compound locomotive engine, the combination with a casing communi-

page_text: cating with the low-pressure steam-chest, or with the receiver-pipe, and containing
a lide or valve adapted to be operated by the low-pressure slide-valve gear, of a
pipe connecting said casing with the high-pressure steam-chest, or with the high-
pressure steam-pipe, another pipe connecting the said casing with the middle-part
of the high-pressure cylinder, and a third pipe connecting the casing with the
middle part of the low-pressure cylinder; said valve or slide being adapted to connect
said first pipe with, or disconnect it from, said second pipe, and to connect said third
pipe with, or disconnect it from, the low-pressure steain-chest, or from the receiver-
pipe, for the purpose as described.
2. In a compound locomotive engine having an arrangement as characterized in
Claim 1, the small channels c5e6 provided in the face of the high-pressure slide-
valve and adapted to lead live-steam from the high-pressure cylinder into the
receiver-pipe, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of September 1895.
ROBERT LINDNER,
By De Katow & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.