Improvements in Fluid-pressure Motors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid-pressure Motors.
I, PETTER CHRISTIAN NICOLAY PEDERSON, of 601 Tower Avenue, West Superior,
in the County of Douglas, and State of Wisconsin, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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 fluid-pressure motors, adapted to utilize the expansive
force of steam, compressed air, gas, or any equivalent fluid, and the object in
view is to provide improved means whereby the successive entrance of the piston-
heads into the expansion-chamber is facilitated, and whereby the frictional con-
tact of the parts involved by such entrance is reduced to the minimum, and
furthermore, to provide an improved construction of valve mechanism for
admitting, and checking the admission of motive-agent.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in
the appended claims.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a motor constructed in accordance
with my invention, the gate-locking and valve-operating mechanisms being shown
in elevation.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a motor constructed
in accordance with my invention, one of the expansion-chambers and contiguous
parts being shown in section, and another in elevation.
Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2.
Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the expansion-chambers and
contiguous parts, detached.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section of an expansion chamber taken in the
plane of the gate axes on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of one of the piston-heads to show the
construction of the packing devices.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the piston-heads and the contiguous portion
of the carrier, partly in section, to show the means whereby the fulcrum or hinge-
pins are secured against accidental displacement.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawings.
straight cylinder or
The mechanism embodying my invention includes a
expansion-chamber at the inlet end of which are arranged duplicate opposite
co-operating gates, each having a plurality of wings, said gates being adapted to
rotate in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, to successively
bring the contiguous wings in vertical or transverse alignment, with their con-
tiguous edges in contact with the carrier by which a plurality of piston-heads
are connected, said gates forming a fixed abutment between which and the moving
abutment formed by a contiguous piston-head is admitted the motive-agent for
actuating the carrier.

page_text: In the present embodiment of my invention I employ means for actuating the
oppositely-located winged gates 1 of the expansion-chambers 2, whereby the shock
or jar incident to the direct contact therewith of the piston-heads 3 is avoided
The endless carrier 4 by which the piston-heads are connected in series, trasverses
guides 5 which, in the construction illustrated consist of wheels, any suitable
number of which may be employed, according to the length of the carrier and
the number of expansion-chambers which may be arranged for co-operation.
The spindles 6 of the revoluble winged gates are extended laterally beyond
the expansion-chambers, and are fitted with spiders 7, each having a plurality of
radial projections or arms corresponding in number with the wings of each gate,
and the diameters of these spiders are such as to arrange the contiguous linear
edges in contact with opposite surfaces of a traveler 8 mounted in a suitable
guide 9 disposed parallel with and longitudinally of the expansion-chamber. The
arms of the spider 7 have flat bearing surfaces 7" for contact, as above indicated, with
the opposite surfaces of the traveler 8, whereby under ordinary circumstances
said spiders are held from rotation, and thus secure the gates against rotation
by the interposition of the traveler, and in order to allow the spiders to rotate
and thereby correspondingly turn the gates to admit a piston-head, I have cut
away or recessed the traveler as shown at 10 at intervals corresponding with the
intervals between the piston-heads. Hence, when a piston-head approaches the
inwardly-projecting aligned wings of the gates, the recessed or cut-away portion 10
of the traveler is brought into such position with relation to the spiders on the
spindles of such gates as to admit the contiguous arms of the spider and thereby
enable the latter to rotate. It will be seen, furthermore, that after the ongage-
ment of the contiguous arms of the spiders with said cut-away portions or recesses
of the traveler, the linear movement of the traveler will communicate motion to
the spiders, and thus cause the rotation of the gates through an arc approximately
equal to a quadrant, and hence the traveler may be utilized as a gate-actuating
device, provided auxiliary means are employed for tripping the spiders sufficiently
to cause the engagement of their innermost arms with the traveler, such means
being hereinafter fully described.
The traveler is of flexible construction, as also is the carrier 4, and I have
found in practice that an efficient construction of parts for this purpose is a
series of hingedly connected links having their contiguous ends provided with
interlocking eyes 4ª, and 8ª, engaged by fulcrum or hinge-pins 4b, and 8h said
hinge-pins being secured against accidental displacement by means of locking-
pins, of which one is illustrated at 4°, in Fig. 7. On the spindle of the guide 5
which may be termed a main or carrier-guide from the fact that it is employed
for supporting the piston-carrier, is arranged an auxiliary or traveler-guide 12
preferably corresponding in construction with the carrier-guide, and adapted to
perform the function of supporting the traveler, which thus moves in a path
parallel with, and at a speed corresponding with, the carrier.
The
Carried by each spider 7 is a series of trip-shoulders 13 consisting of projections
from the face of the spider in the path of a cam-faced trip 14 on the contiguous
surface of the traveler, and, in 'the construction illustrated, these trip-shoulders
are formed by the extremities of a trip-head 15 secured to the outer surface of
the spider and having its angles arranged at points approximately midway
between the arms of the spiders and corresponding in number therewith.
trip-shoulders are arranged at such distances frim the axes of the spiders, with
relation to the cam-surfaced trips 14, that as the traveler advances in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, said trips come in contact with the innermost
or contiguous trip-shoulders, just as the cut-away portions or recesses 10 of the
traveler come into alignment with the rear arms of the spider, and hence impart
sufficient movement to the spiders to bring their rear innermost arms into engage-
ment with said recesses, whereupon the spiders are in position to be rotated by
the direct application of the pressure of the traveler thereto.
Thus, it will be seen that the traveler, which operates parallel with, and at

page_text: a speed corresponding with, the carrier, is guided between the contiguous flat-
surfaced portions of the innermost or contiguous arms of the spiders, and hence
forms a lock to normally maintain the spiders in such positions as to hold the
gates of the expansion-chamber in their operative positions, and that this relative
arrangement of parts continues until certain cut-away portions or recesses 10 of
the traveler are brought into alignment with the rear arms of the spiders, as the
piston-heads approach the inwardly-extending aligned wings of the said gates
whereupon trips on the traveler engage certain projections on the spiders, and
thereby turn the latter sufficiently to cause the engagement of said rearmost arms
with the recesses of the traveler, and thereby cause an interlocking connection
between the spiders and the traveler, which is followed immediately by the reversal
of the gates and a consequent admission of the contiguous piston-head. It will
be seen that a piston-head is admitted to an expansion-chamber by the forward
movement of the aligned inwardly-extending wings of the gates, while the
succeeding gates close together behind the piston, thus disposing the parts of
the mechanism for the immediate admission of the motive-agent, between the
rear or operative face of the piston-head and the contiguous surfaces of the in-
wardly-extending aligned gate-wings which form a fixed abutment and which
bear at their edges against the opposite surfaces of the flexible carrier, as clearly
illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be understood that suitable packing devices are
employed upon the peripheral and side edges of the gate-wings to insure a steam-
tight contact with the contiguous portions of the mechanism and in practice I prefer
to employ packing-strips, both on the gate-wings and on the piston-heads, which
-are constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7 in connection with the piston-
head, wherein the strip is, formed of angular sections 16 disposed respectively at
the several angles of the member to be packed, and each strip consisting of
arms 16, pivotally connected as at 17, and outwardly impelled by means of
actuating springs 18. The contiguous extremities of the pivotal arms 16 of the
angular strips are reduced to form interlocking sliding projections 19 and the
motive-agent is prevented from escaping through the intervals formed by
the extension of the packing-strip members by means of guard-plates 20, which are
arranged in contact with the inner surfaces of said contiguous. interlocking
extremities of the arms 16. Any suitable means for preventing the outward
displacement of the packing-strip members may be employed, such as stop-
pins 21 engaging suitable slots 22. The valve mechanism which I have found
to be efficient in connection with the construction as above set forth, embodies
a rotary valve 23, controlling an inlet-port 24 in the wall of the expansion-
chamber, contiguous to the plane of the inwardly-extending aligned gate-wings,
and a reversing-bar 25 provided with a rack 26 engaging a mutilated gear 27
on the stem of said valve, said reversing-bar being mounted in suitable guides 28.
Connecting with this reversing bar are oppositely-extending trip-arms 29 and 30,
which, in the construction illustrated, consist bell-crank levers having one
arm connected to said reversing-bar and the other arranged in the path of one
of the cam-faced trips 14. After the trips have performed their function, in
causing the engagement of the arms of the spiders with the traveler, one of them,
just as the reversal of the gates is accomplished, comes in contact with the trip-
arm 29, and moves the reversing-bar in the direction indicated by the arrows
in Figs. and 3, thus opening the valve for the admission of steam. When said
trip reaches the oppositely-positioned or reversing grip-arm 30, the reversing-
bar 25 is again returned to its initial position, indicated in said Figs. 2 and 3,
to close the inlet-valve. Thus, the inlet-valve is closed before the piston which
has been exposed to the pressure of the motive-agent, leaves the outlet end of
the expansion-chamber and may be closed at any intermediate point of the travel
of the piston-head in order to utilize the expansion of the motive-agent to the
desired extent.
It will be understood, furthermore, that the piston-heads and carrier are relieved
of all jar incident to the entrance of the former into the expansion-chambers,

page_text: and the opening of the gates, by the means provided is accomplished with
certainty, and by pressure applied to the spider arms at points located at a distance
from the axis of the gates equal to the radii thereof.
The mechanism is described as preferably enclosed in a casing 31 into which
the expansion-chambers are adapted to exhaust, the motive-agent being conveyed
to the valve casing by means of a supply-pipe 32, and being allowed to escape
from the interior of said casing through an exhaust-port 33. Thus, the gates are
normally held in fixed positions by locking devices consisting, in the construction
illustrated, of the spiders and the co-operating traveler, and the gates are released
as the piston-heads successively approach them to enter the expansion-chamber
by means of trip device, consisting in the construction illustrated, of the shoulders 13
and the cam 14, and while it is the object of my invention to turn the gates by
means other than the contact therewith of the piston-heads, it is obvious that
the tripping of the gates by the means described will place them in positions
whereby the contact of a piston-head therewith will accomplish their movement
to the new position. In other words, the contact of a piston-head with the
inwardly-extending wings of a gate will turn those wings outwardly (respectively
upwardly and downwardly) to occupy positions in the cut-away portions of the
top and bottom of the expansion chamber, while the succeeding wings of the
gates will be brought into alignment to close the end of the expansion-chamber.
Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this 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. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston comprising
a plurality of flexibly-connected piston-heads adapted to pass successively through
the expansion-chamber in a common direction, co-operating movable gates located
at the inlet end of the expansion-chamber with their inwardly-extending aligned
wings in the path of the piston-heads as they successively approach the expansion-
chamber, gate-locking devices for normally holding the gates in their closed
or adjusted positions, and trip mechanism for releasing the gates preparatory to
the admission of an approaching piston-head, substantially as specified.
2. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively through the expansion-
chamber, a traveler operatively connected with the piston for coincidental
movement and connections between the traveler and said gates, whereby the
latter are reversed successively as they are approached by the piston-heads, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass. successively through the expan-
sion-chamber, a traveler operatively connected with the piston for coincidental
movement, and spiders carried by the gates and having their arms arranged in
the paths of engaging devices on the traveler, substantially as specified.
4. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively through the expan-
sion-chamber, a traveler mounted for linear movement and operatively connected
with the piston, spiders on the gates having bearing surfaces to engage the
traveler and prevent accidental movement of the gates, and means for periodically
connecting the spiders with the traveler to reverse the gates, substantially as
specified.
5. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively through the expan-
sion-chamber, a traveler mounted for linear movement and operatively connected
with the piston, spiders carried by the gates and having arms to engage spaced

page_text: recesses in the traveler, and trip devices for actuating the spiders to cause engage-
ment of their arms with the recesses of the traveler, substantially as specified.
6. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively through the expan-
sion-chamber, a traveler mounted for linear movement parallel with the piston,
spiders carried by the gates and having arms for successive engagement by the
traveler, and cam-faced trips on the traveler for engaging projections on the
spiders to cause engagement of the arms of the latter with the traveler, sub-
stantially as specified.
7. A Huid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having an
endless carrier and a plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively
through the expansion-chamber in a common direction, rotary winged gates in
the expansion-chamber an endless traveler operatively connected with the piston
for continuous movement in a uniform direction, armed spiders carried by the
spindles of the gates and having flat bearing surfaces normally in contact with
opposite surfaces of the traveler, said traveler having recesses to engage the arms
of the spiders, and cam-faced trips on the traveler for successively engaging trip-
shoulders located on the spiders between the arms thereof, substantially as specified.
8. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced piston-heads adapted to pass successively through the expan-
sion-chamber in a common direction, gates located at the inlet end of the
expansion-chamber, a traveler mounted for movement parallel with the piston,
and valve mechanism for admitting motive-agent to the expansion-chamber, said
mechanism including trip-arms located in the path of trips carried by said
traveler, substantially as specified.
9. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced heads adapted to pass successively through the expansion-
chamber in a common direction, gates for closing the inlet end of the expansion-
chamber, valve mechanism having a reversing-bar operatively connected with the
controlling-valve, and trip-arms connected with the reversing-bar, and a traveler
mounted for movement parallel with the piston and having cam-faced trips for
successive engagement with the trip-arms to alternately open and close the
controlling-valve, substantially as specified.
10. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, a piston having a
plurality of spaced heads adapted to pass successively through the expansion-
chamber in a common direction, gates arranged at the inlet end of the expansion-
chamber and provided with exterior spiders, valve mechanism including
oppositely-located trip-arms operatively connected with the controlling-valve, and
adapted to be successively operated to open and close said valve, a traveler mounted
for movement parallel with the piston and provided with means for engaging
the arms of said spiders on the gates, and cam-faced trips for successively engaging
projections on the spiders, and said trip-arms, substantially as specified.
11. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, valve mechanism, and
a piston-head to operate in the expansion-chamber, said piston-head being pro-
vided with packing devices consisting of angular terminally-interlocking packing-
strips, each having pivotally connected arms, and means for yieldingly holding
said strips in their extended positions, substantially as specified.
12. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, valve mechanism, and
a piston-head to operate in the expansion-chamber, said piston-head being provided
with packing devices consisting of angular terminally-interlocking strips, guard-
plates spanning the interlocking extremities of the contiguous strips and carried
by the extremity of one of them, and means for yieldingly holding the strips
extended, substantially as specified.
13. A fluid-pressure motor having an expansion-chamber, gates for closing the
inlet end of the expansion-chamber, and valve mechanism, in combination with
a piston having a flexible carrier, and a plurality of piston-heads adapted to pass
successively through the expansion-chamber, said carrier consisting of hingedly

page_text: connected sections provided at their contiguous extremities with interlocking eyes,
fulcrum-pins engaging the interlocking eyes, and locking-pins transversely
engaging said fulcrum pins to secure them against accidental displacement, sub-
stantially as specified.