Reversing Gear for Oscillating Steam Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Reversing Gear for Oscillating Steam Engines.
I ARTHUR HENRY TRUELOVE, of No. 5 Freckleton Street, Revoe, in the
Township of Blackpool, and in the County of Lancaster, Joiner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I construct of metal, a reversing gear, for oscillating steam engines, of either
horizontal or vertical type. And same can also be applied, to compound oscillating
engines, of either horizontal or vertical type. And same can be applied to old
engines. In the drawings, the steam block for a pair of engines are shown, and
controlled by one set of reversing gear, and the arrangement for the compound
engines, is shown by the parts that are composed of broken lines. I construct the
reversing gear, in the following manner. I take two flanged steam pipes, with a
branch on each, and fix same on steamways in steam block of engine, with the
branches pointing outside, and in opposite directions to each other, and the whole
of pipes and branches to be in one straight line across the top. I then take four
plug steam cocks, and fix the same on pipes and branches, with steam plugs at
right angles to the pipes and branches, the square on steam plugs to be at an angle of
45 degrees from a centre line through steamways of same, and nut and bolt to be
worked on square ends of steam plugs, to secure levers in proper position. The
first steam cock (which is marked A in drawings) has guide plate and stops, so as
to stop levers in proper position when pushed over in reversing. The remaining
steam cocks are marked B, C, and D. I next take four levers G, H, I, and J,
with a square hole at one end to fit on squares of steam plugs, and the holes in
levers to be at right angles to a centre line through length of levers, and the other
end of levels to be forked to take in connection rod. The connection rod M, m, m³,
and m, to have holes drilled to correspond in distance as from centre to centre of
each plug, or connection rod could be in three pieces instead of one long one,
m', and m³, could be in two short lengths and M, and m, could form the remainder,
the connection rod is extended (by preferance) at same end as guide and stops so
as to couple up to rods and lever for reversing, or for short handle, and which is
marked M.
And
I now come to the setting of reversing gear. I open cock A, and fix lever G, at
an angle of 45 degrees from a vertical centre line, and (by preferance) to the right
hand side of same. I then close cock B, and fix lever H, at same angle and side
as G. 1 then open cock C, and fix lever I, at same angle and side as G, and H.
I then close cock D, and fix lever J, at same angle and side as G, H, I, J.
the whole of the levers to be pointing upwards. A, and D, are supply pipes,
and B, and C, are exhaust pipes, and as shown in drawings the steam would
enter A, and pass down into cylinder, and exhaust through C, and when reversing
gear is thrown over D, would be the supply and B, the exhaust.
And for the compound engines, I take two flanged T steam pipes e, and f, with
one long and one short arm each, and fix c, with short arm on B, and fix f, with
long arm on C, as per drawings, and continue e, and f, down to steam block of low
pressure engines, and steam pipes e, and y, cross each other so as to get them into
opposite steamways. Steam pipe e, crosses over to steamway j, in low pressure
steam block, and steam pipe f, crosses over to steamway i, in low pressure steam
block. 1 then take two steam cocks E, and F, and fix E, ou long arm of e, and

page_text: I then fix F, on short arm of f, steam cocks E, and F, are made with steam plugs
precisly the same as A, B, C, and D. I then take two levers K, and I, and made
precisly the same as levers G, H, I, and J. I then take connection rod 0, 0,
which is drilled at corresponding distances as from centre to centre of steam plugs,
and with a short extension which is coupled at h, to another short connection
rod N, N, which is forked at both ends one end to couple up to connection
rod o, o, and the other end to couple up to an arm n, which is an extension of
connection rod M.
I now come to the setting of reversing gear which belongs to the compound type.
I close cock F, and fix lever L, at same angle and side as G, H, I, J. I then open
cock E, and fix lever K, at same angle and side as L, and both levers pointing
downwards, and while in position I fix connection rod o, o, and then couple same
with forked rod N, N, to n.
As shown in drawings the steam would travel through A, into cylinder of high
pressure engines, and escape through C, and travel along f, into low pressure
cylinder and up and escape by e, and through E, and when engine is reversed the
steam would travel through D, into high pressure cylinder and escape through B,
and travel along e, iuto low pressure cylinder and up and escape by f, and
through F.
Dated this 28th day of March 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Reversing Gear for Oscillating Steam Engines.
I ARTHUR HENRY TRUELOVE, of No. 5, Freckleton Street, Revoc, in the
Township of Blackpool, and in the County of Lancaster, Joiner, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the sanie is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being made to the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification: -
I construct of suitable metal, a reversing gear, for oscillating, steam engines, of
either horizontal, or vertical type. And same can be applied to high pressure,
compound, or triple expansion engines, of either horizontal, or vertical type. And
same can also be applied to old engines.
In the drawings, the steam block, for a pair of high pressure engines are shown,
and controlled, by one set of reversing gear, and the principle of the compound
engine, is also shown, by the parts that are composed of broken lines.
I construct the reversing gear, in the following manner.
I take two flanged steam pipes, b, and c, with a branch on each, a, and d, as
shown in drawings, and by preferance cast iron, (the whole of pipes and branches,
could be cast on one bottom flange, and would be more rigid than if cast separate)
the pipes and branches, to be in a straight line through centres of same, and the
branches to be on the outside of steam pipes.
1 then fix the same over steamways, in steam block of bigh pressure engine, and
secure to same with bolts, or studs. (It is not necessary to fix a, b, c, d, directly
over steamways, in steam block, they can be fixed in any suitable part of engine
room, and connected up to steam block, by means of steam pipes.)
I then take four plug steam cocks, A, B, C, D, and by preferance brass, and fix
the same on pipes and branches marked, a, b, c, d, and with steam plugs at right
angles, to pipes and branches, and secured to same with bolts.
The squares on plugs of steam cocks, to be at an angle of forty five degrees
from a centre line through steamways of same, and nut and bolt to be worked on
ends of same, to keep the levers secured on the squares of same.
The first steam cock (which is marked A in drawings) has guide plate, and stops,

page_text: preferably cast on gland cover, so as to stop levers in proper position, when pushed
over in reversing engine.
I then take four levers, G, H, I, J, which are forked at oue end to receive a
connection rod, and drilled to receive pins for coupling connection rod and levers
together, and the other ends of levers, have square holes in them, that are made to
fit on the squares of steam plugs, and the square holes in levers are at right angles
to a centre line through length of levers.
or
I then take a connection rod, (of either plain fancy design) and marked, M,
m, m², m³, in drawings, and which has holes drilled at corresponding distances, as
the steam plugs are from centre, to centre, or the connection rod could be made in
short lengths, and which would do away with any excessive friction, or straining,
if there was anything not exactly uniform in the make of levers, or if the tops of
pipes and branches, were not quite straight, M, m, could form one rod, and m',
could form another, and m², could form the other.
The connection rod m, is extended to M, where hole is drilled in same to which
handle, or rod, can be coupled for reversing.
The whole of levers, connection rol, or rods, and pins, to be by preferance
wrought iron.
I now come to the setting of reversing gear for high pressure engines, I open
steam cock A, and then fix lever G, on same, at an angle of forty five degrees from
a vertical line through centre of steam cock, and to either right or left side of
centre line (right side shown in drawings) and pointing upwards.
I then close steam cock B, and then fix lever H, on same, and at same angle
as G, and on same side of centre line, and pointing upwards.
I then open steam cock C, and then fix lever I, on same, and at same angle
as G, H, and on same side of centre line, and pointing upwards.
I then close steam cock D, and then fix lever J, on same, and at same angle
as G, H, I, and on same side of centre line, and pointing upwards.
I then take the connection rod, or rods M, m, m', and m³, and fix in position by
means of pins, with the extension M, fixed either to right, or left side (Left side
shown in drawings.)
a, and d, are the supply pipes, and b, and c, are the exhaust pipes, for the high
pressure engine.
In the present position of reversing gear, the supply would come through A,
and down through steamways 9, 9, 9, 9, into the cylinder, and then exhaust through
steamways h, h, h, h, and up through C, and when reversing gear is pushed over,
D would be the supply, and B the exhaust.
For the compound engine, I take two flanged T steam pipes, (and marked e,
and, in drawings) and with a long, and a short arm on each.
I now fix e, with short arm on steam cock B, and f, is fixed with long arm on
steam cock C, I then extend steam pipes, e, and, with two bends, and two lengths
of pipe, to the steam block of low pressure engine, steam pipe e, crosses over
from B, to steamway j, in low pressure steam block, and steam pipe f, crosses over
from C, to steamway i, in low pressure steam block, and the whole of steam pipes
to be secured with bolts or studs.
I then take two steam cocks E, and F, (and precisely the same as, A, B, C, D.)
and fix steam cock E, on steam pipe e, and then fix steam cock F, on steam pipe f,
and both with steam plugs, at right angles to steam pipes.
I then take two levers, K, and L, (and precisely the same as, G, H, I, J.) with
forked ends at one end, and square holes in other end.
I then take connection rod, (marked o, o, in diawings) and which has holes
drilled at corresponding distances, as the steam plugs are from centre, to centre
and the connection rod, o, o, is extended to joint h, which is drilled to receive pin,
for connection rod N, N, and connection rod, N, N, is forked at both ends, one
end to take in connection rod, o, o, and the other end to take in the arm
marked n, and drilled for pins, n is an extension on M, used in the compound, or
triple expansion engines.

page_text: The whole of levers, connection rods and pins, to be by preferance wrought iron.
I now come to the setting of reversing gear, for the compound engine.
I open steam cock E, and fix lever K, on same, at same angle as, G, H, I, J, and
on same side of centre line, and pointing downwards.
I then close steam cock F, and fix lever L, on same, and at same angle as, K,
and on same side of centre line, and pointing downwards.
I then take connection rod, o, o, and fix in position by means of pins, and
couple, o, o, up to n, by means of connection rod, N, N.
In the present position of reversing gear, after steam has been exhausted
through, h, h, h, h, and C, it would travel along pipe f, down steamways, i, i, and
into low pressure cylinder, and then escape through steamways, j,j, and up and
along pipe e, and then through steam cock E.
And when reversing gear is pushed over, D would be the supply pipe, and steam
would travel through, h, h, h, h, and exhaust through 9, 9, 9, 9, and up through B,
and travel along pipe e, down steamways i, j, and exhaust through steamways, i, i,
and up and along pipe f, and then through steam cock F.
In appling the same to triple expansion engines, I merely add another cylinder,
and fix a repetition of T pipes, e and f, and steam cocks, E, aud F, and connection
rods, N, N, and o, o, the same to be fixed on top of E, and F.
And I extend the arm n, to a suitable length to engage with connection rods.
In the present position of reversing gear, the steam cock over E, would be closed,
and the steam cock over F, would be open, and the steam pipes to the cylinder,
would not be crossed as in e, and f, but would be carried parralel to steamways in
steam block, of low pressure engine.
Having now particularly discribed 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 construction of a certain number of steam pipes and branches, steam
cocks, connection rods, and levers, to form a reversing gear, for oscillating steam
engines, and suitable for all the engines mentioned and discribed above.
Dated this 10th day of October 1896.
ARTHUR HENRY TRUELOVE.