Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Engines and other Motors.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Engines and other Motors.
We JOHN FOTHERGILL of Dale Terrace Denby Dale Road Foreman and WILLIAM
BRIGGS and ISAAC BRIGGS, Junior, both of South Parade Manufacturers, all of
Wakefield in the County of York do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
to be as follows :-
Our invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping engines
and other motors which enables us in the most simple manner to stop the engine or
other motors from any particular stations or other parts of works or mills, such for
instance as from departments or shops-or offices situated a long distance from the
engine room at a moments notice and most effectively. Thus in the case of accident
to any person or machine or to the Engine itself time is not lost while some one runs
to the Engine and thus valuable life and property may be saved thereby. We will
explain our apparatus in relation to some of its general applications :-
From the Engine or other motor we carry small tubes to any stopping stations or
parts of works or distant shops or Office or Time Keepers Office from which at any
time and through any cause the Engine or other motor may be required to stop. At
each such station we provide a cock or valve or we may in some cases use a puff valve
as in our previous Specification No. 7264 of 31st May 1886. In the case of the latter
the apparatus is operated by a sudden increase in the internal pressure of air but in
the former case by suddenly breaking the vacuum in the communication pipes which
is maintained therein in any suitable manner such for instance as by a vacuum vessel
and small Air pump or by the Condenser of the Engine either direct or in conjunction
with an Air vessel or not according to convenience but our present apparatus relates
more to the vacuum arrangement which is as follows:
-
In most engines a connecting rod couples the governor or other regulator with the
lever of an equilibrium valve to which the steam is admitted to the engine. To this
connecting rod (by preference) we unite our apparatus and also preferably to the

page_text: lower or valve end of such connecting rod which we accomplish by a suitable junction
piece which is in its normal condition a part of the said rod but when needed acts as
our stopping apparatus. This junction piece at the upper part (for we are explaining
our apparatus as acting vertically upon a vertical connecting rod) has a chamber
communicating by a series of suitable pipes and taps with a condenser or other
vacuum vessel and to the various stations or other positions for stopping the engine.
This chamber has also a suitable external valve seat.
To the lower portion of the junction piece or what is now the connecting rod-
we hinge an elbow lever with adjustable weight and having at the upper part a valve
made to suit the valve seat in the chamber aforesaid and which is capable of adjusting
itself to the seat. This lever carries either above or below its hinge joint a link and
provision for a second link or joint for connection to the equilibrium valve when the
action is as follows:-Supposing the junction of the elbow lever to the valve rod is
below the joint of the connecting rod the valve is brought to its seat and the vacuum
vessel or medium is connected with the chamber and the elbow lever and weight is
thus held against the valve seat by atmospheric pressure and internal vacuum and the
two joints are vertically over each other and the equilibrium valve is open and the
engine and governors are running and the governor connecting rod is acting just as
if our junction piece was not there. Now immediately the vacuum is broken by
turning a cock at any station or in any department the elbow lever falls of course
turning upon its upper joint with the connecting rod and so lifts the equilibrium
valve rod by the action of its link or lower joint and thus stops the engine or
other motor
It will be evident that if the connecting rod joins the elbow below the joint with the
equilibrium valve rod that the action will be reversed and the equilibrium valve rod
pressed down instead of raised but in the latter case the lower end of the connecting
rod will require bending or cranking of the joints or maintained vertically.
In case the equilibrium or other regulating valve is so situated as to require a
horizontal movement. I use the devices of which there are many for transmitting the
necessary motion thereto from a falling lever for instance :-Taking the case of a
simple puff valve or a diaphragm box and pin similar to that explained in our previous
Patent or a cylinder and piston and so as not to bring undue strain upon the
diaphragm pin or piston we make the weighted lever a compound or accumulative one
by means of a centre joint which allows the upper part to attain a certain momentum
before the horizontal rod is moved thereby ensuring prompt and certain action with
a delicate hold upon the piston. The lower part of this compound lever is fixed on a
small shaft which passing through the cap or cover of the rigid portion of
apparatus (which now forms a part of the rod) carries at the other end the link or
crank portion the pin of which works in the vertical slot of the sliding bar. On the
fall of the lever the link or crank moves carrying the sliding har with it and thus
shortens or lengthens the rod as may be desirable and shuts off the steam or other
valve. It will be obvious that the vacuum valve may be used here instead of the
Cylinder & piston valve and that the cylinder & piston may replace the vacuum
valve in the junction piece in the previous cases but we prefer the vacuum valve.
The elbow lever and vacuum valve may be applied direct to an equilibrium or steam
valve by attaching to the lid of the valve a frame with a vertical arm to carry the
vacuum chamber or cylinder and piston and pin but preferably the former.
The lever in this case may be hinged to the bottom of the frame and carry a slot
in which a cross pin works from the valve stalk which passes through an end guide in
the frame the cross pin being situated between the end guide and the stuffing box.
The action when the lever is liberated by breaking the vacuum is that it falls and
carries in its vertical slot the cross pin and valve stalk so closing the valve.
It will be evident that by using a spring insted of a weight that the said valve
whether vacuum or puff may be placed horizontally or in any position and that by
placing the valve seat under the chamber no elbow would be required and destroying
the vacuum would ensure the lever falling at once which may turn a tap, lift a rod,
turn a spindle valve or move a slide valve as occasion or circumstance may require.

page_text: This valve may also be used direct upon Condensers or Air Pumps of Condensing
Engines where the vacuum may become through any cause defective and there being
ample boiler power the governor valve would admit more steam and the valves and
seats or other parts might be spoiled or injured whereas the simple addition of this
little weighted or otherwise regulated valve self contained or say on a small mahogany
back and connected by a little pipe with the Condenser would at once stop the engine
and so prevent accident.
-

page_text: We JOHN FOTHERGILL of Dale Terrace, Denby Dale Road, Foreman and WILLIAM
BRIGGS and ISAAC BRIGGS, Junior, both of South Parade Manufacturers all of
Wakefield in the County of York do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping engines
and other motors which enables us in the most simple manner to stop the engine or
other motors from any particular stations or other parts of works or mills such for instance
as from departments or shops or offices situated à long distance from the engine room
at a moments notice and most effectively. Thus in the case of accident to any person
or machine or to the engine itself, time is not lost while some one runs to the engine
and thus valuable life and property may be saved thereby. We will explain our
apparatus in relation to some of its general applications.
At
From the engine or other motor we carry small tubes to any stopping stations or
parts of works or distant shops or Offices or Time Keepers Office from which at any
time and through any cause the engine or other motor may be required to stop.
each such station we provide a cock or valve, or we may in some cases use a puff valve
as in our previous Specification No. 7264 of 31st May 1886. In the case of the latter
the apparatus is operated by a sudden increase in the internal pressure of air but in
the former case by suddenly breaking the vacuum in the communication pipes which
is maintained therein in any suitable manner such for instance as by a vacuum vessel
and small air pump or by the condenser of the engine either direct or in conjunction
with an air vessel or not according to convenience but our present apparatus relates
more to the vacuum arrangement which is as follows:-
In most engines a connecting rod couples the governor or other regulator with the
lever of an equilibrium valve by or through which the steam is admitted to the
engine. To this connecting rod (by preference) we unite our apparatus and also
preferably to the lower or valve end of such connecting rod which we accomplish by a
suitable junction piece which is in its normal condition a part of the said rod but when

page_text: needed acts as our stopping apparatus. This junction piece at the upper part (for we
are explaining our apparatus as acting vertically upon a vertical connecting rod) has
a chamber communicating by a series of suitable pipes and taps with a condenser
or other vacuum vessel and to the various stations or other positions for stopping the
engine. This chamber has also a suitable external valve seat.
To the lower portion of the junction piece-or what is now the connecting rod, we
hinge an elbow lever with adjustable weight and having at the upper part a valve
made to suit the valve seat in the chamber aforesaid and which is capable of adjusting
itself to the seat: This lever carries either above or below its hinge joint a link and
provision for a second link or joint for connection to the equilibrium valve when the
action is as follows:-Supposing the junction of the elbow lever to the valve rod is
below the joint of the connecting rod, the valve is brought to its seat and the vacuum
vessel or medium is connected with the chamber and the elbow lever and weight is
thus held against the valve seat by atmospheric pressure and internal vacuum and the
two joints are vertically over each other and the equilibrium valve is open and the
engine and governors are running and the governor connecting rod is acting just as if
our junction piece was not there. Now immediately the vacuum is broken by turning
a cock at any station or in any department the elbow lever falls of course turning
upon its upper joint with the connecting rod and so lifts the equilibrium valve rod by
the action of its link or lower joint and thus stops the engine or other motor.
be evident that if the connecting rod joins the elbow lever below the joint with the
equilibrium valve rod that the action will be reversed and the equilibrium valve rod
pressed down instead of raised but in the latter case the lower end of the connecting
rod will require to be bent or cranked if the joints are maintained vertically.
It will
a
In case the equilibrium or other regulating valve is so situated as to require
horizontal movement we use the devices of which there are many for transmitting the
necessary motion thereto from a falling lever for instance :-Taking the case of a
simple puff valve or diaphragm box and pin similar to that explained in our previous
Patent or a cylinder and piston and so as not to bring undue strain upon the
diaphragm pin or piston we make the weighted lever a compound or accumulative one
by means of a centre joint which allows the upper part to maintain a certain
momentum before the horizontal rod is moved thereby ensuring prompt and certain
action with a delicate hold upon the piston.
The lower part of this compound lever is fixed on a small shaft which passing
through the cap or cover of the rigid portion of the apparatus (which now forms a
part of the rod) carries at the other end a link or crank portion the pin of which works
in the vertical slot of the sliding bar.
On the fall of the lever the link or crank moves carrying the sliding bar with it and
this shortens or lengthens the rod as may be desirable and shuts off the steam or other
valve. It will be obvious that the vacuum valve may be used here instead of the
cylinder and piston valve and that the cylinder and piston may replace the vacuum
valve in the junction piece in the previous cases but we prefer the vacuum valve.
The elbow lever and vacuum valve may be applied direct to an equilibrium or steam
valve by attaching to the lid of the valve a frame with a vertical arm to carry the
vacuum chamber or cylinder and piston and pin but preferably the former. The lever
in this case may be hinged to the bottom of the frame and carry a slot in which a
cross pin works from the valve stalk which passes through an end guide in the frame
the cross pin being situated between the end guide and the stuffing box. The action
when the lever is liberated by breaking the vacuum is that it falls and carries in its
vertical slot the cross pin and valve stalk so closing the valve. It will be evident that
by using a spring instead of a weight that the said valve whether vacuum or puff may
be placed horizontally or in any position and that by placing the valve seat under the
chamber no elbow would be required as the destroying of the vacuum would ensure
the lever falling at once which may turn a tap, lift a rod, turn a spindle valve, or
move a slide valve as occasion or circumstance may require. This valve may be also
be used direct upon condensers or air pumps of condensing engines where the vacuum
may become through any cause defective and there being ample boiler power the

page_text: governor valve would admit more steam and the valves and seats or other parts might
be spoiled or injured whereas the simple addition of this little weighted lever or
otherwise regulated valve self contained or say on a small mahogany back and
connected by a little pipe with a condenser would at once stop the engine or raise an
alarm or otherwise indicate this condition and so prevent accident when the vacuum
fell below a certain safe limit to which the valve would be adjusted.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practice we have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings upon which several
examples are shown of its application under different conditions which will make it
very simple for others to apply it to their particular need.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lower part of the governor or other rod A
connected through the tilting lever B with the valve C by its valve rod D in such a
manner hereafter to be explained that the valve rod D is lifted to close the valve.
Figure 2 is also a side elevation of the lower part of the rod A which is however
now cranked at a² and a² so as to admit of the attachment to the tilting lever B in
such a manner that the valve rod D shall be depressed to close the valve as will be
hereafter more fully explained.
Figure 3 is a broken off front elevation of the valve showing the communication
therewith by pipes a² and a.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the link joint Figure 2 which depresses the valve
lever D in its action.
Figure 5 is a diagram showing the position of the tilting lever B, rod A, and valve
lever D when the valve has been liberated by the breaking of the vacuum.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement of the tilting lever B when used to break the
vacuum in the condenser through a second pipe.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of our arrangement by which a diaphragm or piston in
the cylinder S communicates through the lever T with a horizontal rod A acting upon
the equilibrium or other valve or valve lever D.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of Figure 7 on line 1. 2.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of our tilting lever self contained and ready to fix in
almost any position.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of our device attached direct to a valve (without the
intervention of any other parts.
In Figure 1 our invention is seen in one of its simpliest forms where the governor
or other rod A is united to the equilibrium or other valve rod D through our tilting
rod B which is pivotted to A at 6 and also to a socket jaw E at 2 which is fixed to
the lever D by the set screw e'. The rod A has a valve chamber a³ formed therein
and a suitable valve seat which may be faced with a soft seat such for instance as
india-rubber and the tilting lever B carries the valve 63 which is attached to B in such
a manner as to be capable of a little self or other adjustment in order that it may find
an accurate seat upon the valve seating aº.
The tilting lever B is constructed with an arm upon which the adjustable balance
weight bis placed.
The projections clutch the rod A so as to assist to keep the tilting lever B steady
in ordinary work as the object is to make the connection between A and D in
ordinary practice as much like a solid rod as possible.
The action is as follows:-Immediately the vacuum is broken at any part of the
works by the admittance of air to the pipes a³ or a the valve ³ is no longer held
against the seat and it therefore falls more or less forcibly according to the piston
and weight of the balance weight into such a position as that shown by the diagram
Figure 5, which by its falling action lifts the lever D through the fulcrum pin bat
the end of rod A. Rod A is of course capable of side movement from a suitable joint
higher up so that b³ is a swinging fulcrum. In cases where the rod D requires to be
depressed we simply connect through a socket jaw F instead of E and crank the rod A
at a and a² so that the fulcrum b' may be below the 62 which unites the tilting
lever B through F to D. It will be clearly understood that the falling of B will be

page_text: just the same as in the previous case the only difference in effect being the depression
of the rod D.
In cases where it is required to break the vacuum with the condenser we place the
tilting lever B and its valve 63 to act through a link H and pin h¹ see Figure 6 upon a
larger valve K which is seated in a suitable seating L which communicates with the
condenser by a larger pipe than those used for communication with departments in
the works for setting the tilting lever B in motion. The power to operate the larger
valve K. being obtained by the lever B and the lever to which the link H is connected
at '. The pivotted balance hook M serves to hold B in nearly its proper position and
thus the equilibrium or other steam valve is held open so that the cylinder of engine
can be blown through and prepared for starting after an interval of disuse.
In applying the invention to a horizontal rod the puff arrangement S of our
previous Patent herein before referred to may be used or an air cylinder in such a
manner as to lift any pin or stop s¹ by a puff or pressure of air sent through the
pipe which lifts diaphragm or piston in S when the lever Timmediately falls over
upon its centre and strikes the second lever U at u by the pin 2 with a blow equal
to the accelerated force of the weight 13 and lever falling through the vertical distance
between its normal position as shown and the weight of the part a'.
This carries the lever U over with considerable force upon its spindle 2 which
passes through the fast boss of the cover V where it is connected to the crank W
which has a crank pin working in the slot of the sliding bar X which has the
effect of bringing over the bar X and lever D into the position shown by dotted lines
thus stopping the engine or other motor. The cover V is screwed over the bar to
keep it in position and to carry the lever U.
The little apparatus shown by Figures 9 and 10 is perhaps the most compact of all
as it is quite self-contained upon its own wood or ether base N which has mounted
thereon the air chamber and valve seat P with the communicating vacuum and air
pipes. The lever B is hung upon a suitable jaw piece which is also secured to the
base N. It will be clearly understood that this may be separately sold for and fixed
to any engine condenser or other part for which it is suitable. Of course the air or
puff arrangement shown at Figure 7 may be substituted for the vacuum.
The modification Figure 11 simply shows how easily the arrangement may be
affixed to a stop or other valve by simply fixing to the valve cover a bracket or
guide bars R to which the tilting lever B is hung at and the vacuum chamber is
affixed to or made a part of R from whence the pipes pass to the departments of the
works and to the condenser or other vacuum chamber. It will be readily understood
that our stop arrangement will act direct upon a corliss or other valve without the
intervention of a lever D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is.
:-
First The improvements in appliances for stopping engines in which the valve
or valves admitting steam to the cylinder is closed by a lever or other equivalent on
the release or liberation of a valve from its seat by the breaking of the vacuum or the
withdrawal of a pin or piston, on the creation of pressure in pipes by puff of air or
otherwise.
Second-In improvements in apparatus for stopping engines and other motors a
hinged tilting lever held in position by a vacuum valve or stop which when liberated
by its gravity or the use of a spring or weight operates on parts as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
Third The arrangement of tilting levers shown by Figures 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5
linked to the connecting rod A and valve lever D substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
Fourth The application and use of a single or double lever upon a horizontal bar
in combination with vacuum or pressure pipes by which motors may be stopped
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: Fifth The combination of a lever B with a stop or other valve and vacuum or
pressure pipes substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth, and shewn by
Figure 11.
:-
Sixth The combination of the lever B with a secondary valve for breaking the
vacuum in condenser or other vessel as herein set forth and shown at Figure 6.
Seventh The self contained arrangement of lever by vacuum or stop herein
set forth and illustrated at Figures 9 and 10 substantially as and for the purpose
herein set.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicants.