IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH OPERATING CONTROLLING AND REGU- LATING THE ACTION OF FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES
Year: 1886

page_text: '
Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
BEGLECT
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of 3 Vernon Chambers, Southampton Row, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH OPERATING CONTROLLING AND REGU-
LATING THE ACTION OF FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES to be as follows:-
:
My invention relates to improvements connected with fluid pressure engines,
whereby automaticity of action, and other advantages are obtained and it consists in
adapting to such fluid pressure engines valves which are automatically operated and
controlled by electromotors actuated by automatic pressure electric contact makers for
the purpose of operating controlling or regulating the action of the said fluid pressure
engines.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ electromotors of any convenient
type such for example as those referred to in the complete Specification prepared to
accompany my Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885.
These electromotors 1 cause to be called into action and otherwise controlled by
E pressure
automatic pressure electric contact makers hereinafter referred to as
contacts," such for example as those of the types referred to with reference to
figures 32, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 39 of the complete specification prepared to accompany
my Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885. I desire it to be understood however
that I do not limit myself to any particular form of automatic pressure contact.
I employ the said electomotors for the purpose of operating valves.
The electromotors and pressure contacts hereinhefore mentioned are placed in circuit
with any convenient source or reservoir of electrical energy, such for example as a
primary battery, an electric accumulator, or an electric light or power transmission
circuit, or the like.
The pressure contacts, whose action is well known, and is sufficiently described in
the complete Specification prepared to accompany my Letters Patent No. 339 of the
year 1885, serve to close the electric circuit when the pressure alters to a definite
extent. The circuit being closed, a current of electricity passes from the source or
reservoir of electrical energy through the electromotor causing the latter to operate
the valves herein referred to.

page_text: The pressure contacts actuate the electromotors by calling them into action when
required, controlling that action whilst it lasts, and causing or allowing such action to
cease when no longer required.
The electromotors operate the valves by calling them into action when required,
controlling their action whilst it lasts, and causing or allowing such action to cease
when no longer required.
1 shall first refer to the action of my invention in connection with a steam engine.
The boiler is fitted with a pressure contact and is in connection with a steam engine
by means of a steam pipe. In this steam pipe is a valve operated by an electromotor
actuated by the pressure contact fitted to the boiler. Another pipe serves for the
conveyance of the steam after it has passed through the steam cylinder; and to this
latter pipe is connected a pressure contact which actuates an electromotor operating a
three-way valve. At the spot where the three-way valve is situated the said pipe
bifurcates into two other pipes. The pressure contact fitted to the boiler actuates the
electromotor which operates the valve in the steam pipe for the purpose of regulating
and controlling the supply of steam from the boiler to the engine. The second
pressure contact just mentioned actuates the electromotor operating the three-way
valve and so determines into which of the two pipes before mentioned the steam from
the cylinder will be passed: and this it does in accordance with the pressure of the
said steam. For example let us assume that the steam is normally passed through
one of these two latter pipes (that is, through one of the two pipes into which that
pipe bifurcates which contains the three-way valve), say into the air or into a
condenser. If now the pressure of the exhaust steam in the pipe leading from the
steam cylinder becomes so high that its power can be usefully employed then the
second contact herein before mentioned will act and cause the three-way valve to be
moved in such manner that the steam will be passed through the other pipe into which
the pipe from the steam cylinder bifurcates either to a low pressure cylinder or engine
or to any other apparatus that may be desired.
It will be readily understood that my invention may be equally well applied to
other forms of fluid pressure engines than steam engines. For example a pressure
contact, placed in a water or gas main or in a compressed air pipe after the manner of
the pressure contact in the boiler above mentioned will regulate the supply of water,
gas or compressed air to a hydraulic engine a gas engine or a compressed air engine
respectively.
Similarly a pressure contact in a pipe leading from a hydraulic cylinder or engine
or a compressed air cylinder or engine will determine whether the escaping fluid can
be utilised or not and so cause the said fluid to be passed into a pipe leading to a
lower pressure hydraulic or compressed air cylinder or engine respectively, or he
passed into an exhaust pipe.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Connected with Steam or other Fluid Pressure
Engines.
1, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Consulting 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 improvements connected with fluid pressure engines
whereby automaticity of action and other advantages are obtained and it consists in
adapting to such fluid pressure engines valves, which are automatically operated and
controlled by electromotors actuated by automatic pressure electric contact makers
for the purpose of operating controlling or regulating the action of the said fluid
pressure engines.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ electromotors of any convenient
type, such for example as those referred to in the complete Specification accompanying
my Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885. I desire it to be understood however
that I do not limit myself to any particular form of electromotor.
68
These electromotors 1 cause to be called into action, and otherwise controlled, by
automatic pressure electric contact makers, hereinafter referred to as pressure
contacts," such for example as those of the types referred to with reference to
figures 32, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 39 of the complete Specification accompanying my
Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885. I desire it to be understood however that
I do not limit myself to any particular form of automatic pressure electric contact
maker.
I employ the said electromotors for the purpose of operating valves.
The electromotors and pressure contacts herein before mentioned are placed in
circuit with any convenient source or reservoir of electrical energy, such for example
as a primary battery, an electric accumulator, or an electric light or power transmission
circuit, or the like.
The pressure contacts, whose action is well known, and is sufficiently described in
the complete Specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885,
serve to close the electric circuit when the pressure alters to a definite extent. The
circuit being closed, a current of electricity passes from the source or reservoir of
electrical energy through the electromotor, causing the latter to operate the valves
heroin referred to.
The pressure contacts actuate the electromotors by calling them into action when
required, controlling that action whilst it lasts, and causing or allowing such action to
cease when no longer required.
The electromotors operate the valves by calling them into action when required,
controlling their action whilst it lasts, and causing or allowing such action to cease
when no longer required.
I shall first refer to the action of my invention in connection with a steam engine.
The boiler is fitted with a pressure contact, and is in connection with a steam engine
by means of a steam pipe. In this steam pipe is a valve operated by an electromotor
actuated by the pressure contact fitted to the boiler. Another pipe serves for the

page_text: conveyance of the steam after it has passed through the steam cylinder ; and to this
latter pipe is connected a pressure contact which actuates an electromotor operating
a three-way valve. At the spot where the three-way valve is situated the said pipe
bifurcates into two other pipes. The pressure contact fitted to the boiler actuates the
electromotor which operates the valve in the steam pipe for the purpose of regulating
and controlling the supply of steam from the boiler to the engine or cylinder. The
second pressure contact just mentioned actuates the electromotor operating the three-
way valve, and so determines into which of the two pipes before mentioned the steam
from the cylinder will be passed and this it does in accordance with the pressure of
the said steam. For example, let us assume that the steam is normally passed through
one of these two latter pipes, (that is, through one of the two pipes into which that
pipe bifurcates which contains the three-way valve), say into the air or into a
condenser. If now the pressure of the exhaust steam in the pipe leading from the
steam cylinder becomes so high that its power can be usefully employed, then the
second contact hereinbefore mentioned will act, and cause the three-way valve to be
moved in such manner that the steam will be passed through the other pipe into which
the pipe from the steam cylinder bifurcates, either to a low pressure cylinder or engine,
or to any other apparatus that may be desired.
It will be readily understood that my invention may be equally well applied to
other forms of fluid pressure engines, than steam engines. For example, a pressure
contact placed in a water or a gas main, or in a compressed air pipe, after the manner
of the pressure contact in the boiler above mentioned, will regulate the supply of
water gas or compressed air to a bydraulic engine, a gas engine, or a compressed air
engine respectively.
Similarly a pressure contact in a pipe leading from a hydraulic cylinder or engine
or a compressed air cylinder or engine will determine whether the escaping fluid can
be utilised or not, and so cause the said fluid to be passed into a pipe leading to a
lower pressure hydraulic or compressed air cylinder or engine respectively, or be
passed into an exhaust pipe.
In order that my invention may be more readily, or more fully, understood, I shall
now proceed briefly to describe an illustrative case, reference being made to the:
accompanying drawing, which is to be understood as being purely diagramatic. In
this drawing symbolically represent the pressure contacts by the letter C in a circle,
the electromotors by the letters EE within a circle, and the source or reservoir of
electrical energy by the letter G within a circle.
In the drawing my invention is shown in connection with a steam engine and
boiler. A is the boiler fitted with the pressure contact C. B is the steam engine
connected to the boiler by the steam pipe D. In this steam pipe is a throttle valve V¹
operated by the electromotor E' actuated by the automatic contact C. The steam,
after passing through the steam cylinder, passes by the pipe F, to which is connected
the pressure contact C which actuates the electromotor E operating the three-way
valve V. At V2 the pipe F bifurcates into the two pipes H and K. It will be seen
that the pressure contact (actuates the electromoter E operating the valve V', so
regulating the supply of steam to the steam engine in accordance with the pressure
of the steam in the boiler. Thus, if the pressure in the boiler falls contact will be so
made as to open the valve V' wider, and so admit more steam to the steam engine;
whilst, if the pressure in the boiler rises, contact will be made so as to close the valve
somewhat, and admit less steam to the steam engine, thus adjusting the amount of
steam admitted to the engine in accordance with its pressure.
The pressure
contact C³ actuates the electromotor E2 operating the valve V so determining into
which of the pipes H or K the exhaust steam will be passed, and this in accordance
with its pressure. For example let us assume that the steam is normally passed
through the pipe K, say into the air or into a condenser. If now the pressure of the
exhaust steam in F becomes so high that its power can be usefully applied, then C
will act, and cause V2 to be operated in such manner as to pass the steam through
the pipe H, either to a low pressure engine or to any other apparatus that may be
desired.

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Of the various forms of electromotors which I may use in connection with my
invention I find a compound solenoid or sucking magnet and core, with a counter-
weight or counterspring to react against the pull of the solenoid, to be suitable for
operating the valve V; and a long pull electromagnet_and_armature, also with a
counterweight or counterspring, for operating the valve V. In connection with this
last electromotor I prefer to employ a holdback.
Of the various forms of pressure contact which may be used in connection with my
invention, I find that one of either of the types shown in figures 38 and 39 of the
complete specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 339 of the year 1885, is
suitable; the one fitted to the boiler being preferably of combined duplex and
multiplex construction, that is of duplex form multiplexed in both directions, and the
one fitted to the pipe leading from the steam cylinder being preferably of simple
duplex construction.
Of course it is not necessary that the pressure contact C" should be in the boiler.
It may be connected with the steam pipe, but in this latter case it is preferably placed
in the part between the boiler and the valve.
In the drawing my invention is shown in connection with a steam engine: but it is
applicable to other kinds of fluid pressure engines. Thus, if for the word "steam
we substitute the word "water," and for the word "boiler" we substitute the words
"water main," the description of the steam engine will apply equally well to an
hydraulic engine. Similarly, if for the word "steam" be substituted the words
compressed air," and if for the word "boiler "be substituted the words "compressed
air supply pipe," the description will apply to a compressed air engine. Similarly in
the first part of the description of the steam engine, namely that referring to the
operating of the valve in the pipe leading from the boiler to the steam engine, if the
word " gas be substituted for the word "steam," and the words "gas main" be
substituted for the word "boiler" the description will be applicable to gas engines.
وا
It will be obvious that the pressure contact may, in addition to actuating the
electromotor F, actuate another electromotor serving to operate another valve in the
pipe H, for the purpose of adjusting the amount of steam passed through the pipe H
in accordance with the pressure of the steam in F, in the same manner as the amount
of steam passed through D is adjusted to the pressure of the steam in the boiler.
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 improvement connected with steam or other fluid pressure engines consisting
in the combination of a pressure contact an electromotor and a valve substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2. The improvement connected with steam or other fluid pressure engines consisting
in the combination of the pipe D, valve V, electromotor and pressure contact Cr
for the purpose of adjusting the supply of fluid to a fluid pressure cylinder or engine
in accordance with its pressure substantially as set forth.
3. The improvement connected with steam or other fluid pressure engines consisting
in the combination of a pressure contact an electromotor and a three-way valve for the
purpose of determining into which of two pipes the fluid shall be passed substantially
as set forth.
4. The improvement connected with steam or other fluid pressure engines consisting
n. the combination of a pressure contact an electromotor a three-way valve and a
bifurcating pipe substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 12th day of August 18ee