Year: 1898

page_text: I, CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH WILHELM KRÜLL, of Brunsbüttel, Germany, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
any suit-
This invention relates to a reversing engine which is or may be fixed in
able manner onto the condenser of the steam engine or other convenient place.
It comprises an arrangement of two cylinders of which one works with compressed
air or in case of emergency with steam, whilst the other works with water. The
former effects the reversing operation proper, and the simultaneous formation of
a cushion which receives the piston, whilst the other cylinder has for object to
promote a quiet reversing in order to prevent knocking of the reversing link.
In the illustrative drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the two
cylinders which are connected together. Fig. 2 is a plan of the slide valve arrange-
ment and the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section
on the line of Fig. 2, through the slide valve which serves to form a cushion
for the piston as hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a cross section through the centre
of the upper cylinder, on the line y-y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates the general
arrangement of the reversing engine, whilst Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 inclusive, and
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 inclusive illustrate respectively two modified construc-
tions of slide valve.
:
The two cylinders A and B are suitably connected together and provided with
a common piston rod a. The upper cylinder A works either with compressed air
or steam, and the lower cylinder B works with water. When the cylinder A is
to work with compressed air, the said air is supplied to it from an air vessel which
is or may be fixed to the ship's hull, and which, at the same time serves as an air
vessel for the feed pump. When air cannot be used the cylinder is made to work with
steam, and is, for this purpose, placed in communication with the steam boiler.
The cylinder A is. provided at each end with a "relief valve," and also with the usual
water discharge cocks for use when steam is employed.
:
The slide valve chest C contains two slide valves, a working slide valve b and
a slide valve c which serves to produce a cushion for receiving the impact of the
piston; these two slide valves are arranged side by side. Each of them acts upon
its respective ports b¹, 63 and c, c² respectively in the cylinder A. They are moved
simultaneously by means of a lever d (which is designed to be operated by the
engineer, and which is pivoted on a bracket e fixed on the slide valve chest C) in
such a manner that when the slide valve b. opens for example, the port b₁, and the
inflowing air drives the piston D upward in the direction indicated by the arrows,
the slide valve c will immediately thereupon open the port c³, so as to also allow air,
to pass into the cylinder A, but into the opposite end of the same, a certain resist-
ance being thereby opposed to the piston 1); in other words, the piston is arrested
by the cushion thus formed. When the port b is fully opened by the working
slide valve b, the exhaust is closed, so that the opposing pressure can no longer

page_text: The piston D which is driven upward, and whose piston rod a is connected by
means of a cross head E and a connecting rod F with the reversing lever G, pro-
duces, by means of the connecting rod H, a movement of the link or a change of
direction of the rotation of the "main engine."
"
The formation of a cushion to act against the piston is, however, as a rule,
especially when employing a high pressure of steam, not sufficient to produce an
absolutely uniform and quiet reversal. In order to effect this purpose, there is pro-
vided below the compressed air cylinder A, a hydraulic cylinder B which is con-
nected at each end with a pipe union f f that unite in a 3-way cock f. The
water supplied to the cylinder B is led through a pipe f say from the outside of
the ship or from the steam pump to the 3-way cock f, which can be adjusted to
a desired position for the purpose of producing a quicker or slower reversal.
The cylinder B when in use always contains an amount of water corresponding to its
capacity. If now the piston D¹ be driven upwardly similarly to the piston 1) of
the upper cylinder A, the water prevents a rapid working of the same. The piston
is, in fact, raised quite gradually the water passing from the top through
pipe fi through the 3-way cock f and pipe to the lower part of the cylinder
and produces a very quiet reversal, so that no jolting is produced in the link.
According as the three-way cock is set, so that a greater or smaller passage area is
produced, the reversal will take place more or less rapidly.
The hydraulic cylinder B may also be employed alone as a reversing cylinder,
when, for example, the other cylinder A is incapable of working. For this purpose
the water is led from the steam pump through the pipe f³ under pressure to the
cylinder B and the three-way cock f is set so that the water acts only on one side
of the piston. The water discharge pipe n or n¹ on the opposite side of the cylinder
is opened by means of a cock o or ol, so that the water acting in opposition to the
piston, can escape through said pipe. According to the position of the cock o
or o therefore, a quicker or slower reversal takes place.
The slide valve arrangement may be varied. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, inclusive,
and also in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 inclusive each slide valve is operated
separately whilst in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, both slide valves are connected together,
and are operated from a common slide valve rod. The slide valves themselves may
be constructed in any suitable manner adapted for the purpose. The slide valve
arrangement shown in the first four figures, consists of an ordinary D slide valve b
for performing the work, and of a flat slide valve c for forming the cushion. Both
move with the same stroke, and are operated at the same time, by means of the
lever d. Preferably, both slide valves are guided in longitudinal fillets g (Fig. 4)
in order to prevent them from being raised by the pressure acting thereon. Any
desired arrangements may be employed for this purpose.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the two slide valves are
.connected together as already stated and are operated by means of a common slide
valve rod. Figs. 6 and 7 show the two extreme positions of the slide valve. Fig. 8
is a section on the line wow and Fig. 9 is a similar section on the line - of
Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a cross section through the slide valve on the line uu of Fig. 6.
The working portion of the slide valve is formed of D-shape whilst that portion h¹
which serves to produce the cushion, is made flat, and provided with a slot k,
which operates the two ports and . The valve works in such a manner that
when the port i¹ is fully opened, the exhaust i is closed, see Fig. 8. In this position
of the slide valve, the slot k of the portion h³ corresponds with the port and allows
air to pass through the latter, that is to say, from the opposite side into the
cylinder A. By this means, a cushion is formed to receive the piston I).
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 inclusive illustrate a further modified construction
of slide valve.
Figs. 11 and 12 show two different positions of the slide valve. Fig. 13 is a
section on the line t-t and Fig. 14 is a section on the line s-s of Fig. 11, Fig. 15
is a cross section through the two slide valves on the line -r of Fig. 12.
In this arrangement, two separate slide valves 1 and m are employed, each of

page_text: which is operated by a separate slide valve rod. This may also be effected by
means of a common hand lever but in such a manner that the working slide valve
will make a considerably greater stroke than the slide valve m which forms the
cushion. Both slide valves and m are D-shaped. As soon as the working slide
valve opens the port, the exhaust is closed, so that no more air can escape from
the cylinder A. At the same time the slide valve m connects the two ports m¹, m³
together, so that when the piston is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow q,
the air introduced through the port passes partly through the port m', the cavity
of the slide valve m, and the port m³ to the opposite end of the cylinder, and thus
forms the cushion for receiving the impact of the piston.
By the peculiar arrangement of the slide valves and the formation thereby pro-
duced of a cushion for acting against the piston, or for receiving its impact, there
is produced, in combination with the hydraulic action of the cylinder B, a certain
and quiet reversal of the engine, in such a manner that the link is moved gradually
and not with a sudden jerk.
I, CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH WILHELM KRÜLL, of Brunsbüttel, Germany, 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 relates to a reversing engine which is or may be fixed in any suit-
able manner onto the condenser of the main steam engine or other convenient place.
It comprises an arrangement of two cylinders of which one works with compressed
air, or, in case of emergency, with steam, whilst the other works with water. The
former effects the reversing operation proper, and the simultaneous formation of
a cushion which receives the piston, whilst the other cylinder has for object to
effect a quiet reversing in order to prevent knocking of the reversing link.
In the illustrative drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification Fig. 1
is a longitudinal section through the two cylinders, which are connected together..
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the slide valve arrangement and the mechanism for operat-
ing the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the liner of Fig. 2, through
the slide valve which serves to form a cushion for the piston as hereinafter described.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through the centre of the upper cylinder, on the line Y y
of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates the general arrangement of the reversing engine,
whilst Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 inclusive, and Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 inclusive
illustrate respectively two modified constructions of slide valve.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, as will be seen the two cylinders A and B are
suitably connected together through a common piston rod a The upper cylinder A
works either with compressed air or steam, and the lower cylinder B works with
water. When the cylinder A is to work with compressed air, the said air can be
supplied to it from an air vessel which is or may be fixed to the hull of the ship
on which the apparatus is situated and which, at the same time serves as an air
vessel for the feed pump. When air cannot be used the cylinder is made to work
with steam, and is, for this purpose, placed in communication with the steam boiler.
The cylinder A is provided at each end with a relief valve, and also with the usual
water discharge cocks for use when steam is employed

page_text: The slide valve chest C contains two slide valves, a working slide valve b. and
a slide valve c which serves to produce a cushion for receiving the impact of the
piston; these two slide valves are arranged side by side. Each of them acts upon
its respective ports b, band, respectively in the cylinder A.. They are moved
simultaneously by means of a lever d (which is designed to be operated by the
engineer, and which is pivoted on a bracket e fixed on the slide valve chest C) in
such a manner that when the slide valve, 6 opens, for example the port 1, and the
inflowing, air drives the piston D upward in the direction indicated by the arrow 2,
the slide valve
SO
the port,
.open
as to also allow
to pass into the cylinder A, but into the opposite end of the same, a, certain resist-
ance being thereby opposed to the piston 1; in other words, the piston is arrested
by the cushion thus formed. When the port, b¹ is fully opened by the working
slide valve b, the exhaust 63 is closed, so that the opposing pressure can, no longer
escape...
C will
air
The piston 1) which is driven upward, and whose piston rod a is connected by
means of a cross head and a connecting rod F with the reversing lever G, pro-
duces, by means of the connecting rod H, a. movement of the link or a change of
direction of the rotation of the main engine.
The formation of a cushion to act against the piston is, however, as a rule,
especially when employing a high pressure of steam, not sufficient to produce an
absolutely uniform and quiet reversal. In order to effect this, there is pro-
vided below the compressed air cylinder A, a hydraulic cylinder B which is con-
nected at each end with a pipe union f1 f that unite in a 3-way cock f. The
water supplied to the cylinder B is led through a pipe f3 say from the outside of
the ship or from the steam pump to the 3-way cock f, which can be adjusted to
a desired position for the purpose of producing a quicker or slower reversal.
The cylinder B always contains an amount of water corresponding to its
capacity. If now the piston D¹ be driven upwardly similarly to the piston 1 of
the upper cylinder A, the water prevents a rapid working of the same. The piston
is, in fact, raised quite gradually the water passing from the top through
the pipe the 3-way cock f and the pipe f³ to the lower part of the cylinder
and produces a very quiet reversal, so that no jolting is produced in the link.
According as the three-way cock is set, so that a greater or smaller passage area is
produced, the reversal will take place with more or less rapidity.
The hydraulic cylinder B may also be employed alone as a reversing cylinder,
when, for example, the other cylinder A is incapable of working. For this purpose
the water is led from the steam pump through the pipe f³ under pressure to the
cylinder B and the three-way cock f is set so that the water acts only on one side
of the piston. The water discharge pipe n or n¹ on the opposite side of the cylinder
is opened by means of a cock o or o, so that the water acting in opposition to the
piston, can escape through said pipe. According to the position of the cock o
or o¹ therefore, a quicker or slower reversal takes place.
The slide valve arrangement may be varied. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 inclusive,
and also in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 inclusive each slide valve is operated
separately, whilst in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, both slide valves are connected together,
The slide valves themselves may
and are operated from a common slide valve rod.
be constructed in any suitable manner adapted for the purpose. The slide valve
arrangement shown in the first four figures, consists of an ordinary three-port
slide valve b for performing the work, and of a flat slide valve c for forming the
cushion. Both move with the same stroke, and are operated at the same time, by
means of the. lever. d. Preferably, both slide valves are guided in longitudinal
fillets g (Fig. 4) in order to prevent them from being raised by the pressure acting
thereon. Any desired arrangements may be employed for this purpose.
In the arrangement. shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, the two slide valves are
connected together as already stated and are operated by means of a common slide
valve rod. Figs. 6 and 7 show the two extreme positions of the slide valve. Fig. 8
is a section on the line ww and Fig. 9 is a similar section on the line
of

page_text: Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a cross section through the slide-valve on the line of Fig. 6.
The working portion of the slide valve is formed of D-shape, whilst that portion h¹
which serves to produce the cushion, is made flat, and is provided with a slot k
which operates the two ports and . The valve h works in such a manner that
when the port is fully opened, the exhaust i is closed, see Fig. 8. In this position
of the slide valve, the slot of the portion corresponds with the port and allows
air to pass through the latter, that is to say; from the opposite side into the
cylinder A. By this means, a cushion is formed to receive the piston D.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 inclusive illustrate a further modified construction
of slide valve.
Figs. 11 and 12 show two different positions of the slide valve. Fig. 13 is a
section on the line t t and Fig. 14 is a section on the liness of Fig. 11. Fig. 15
is a cross section through the two slide valves on the line rr of Fig. 12.
In this arrangement, two separate slide valves and m are employed, eacli of
which is operated by a separate slide valve rod. This may also be effected by
means of a common hand lever but in such a manner that the working slide valve:
will make a considerably greater stroke than the slide valve m which forms the
cushion. Both slide valves and m are D-shaped. As soon as the working slide
valve opens the port, the exhaust is closed, so that no more air can escape from
the cylinder A. At the same time the slide valve m connects the 'two ports m³, m³
together, so that when the piston is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow.q,
the air introduced through the port passes partly through the port m', the cavity
of the slide valve m, and the port m² to the opposite end of the cylinder, and thus
forms the cushion for receiving the impact of the piston.
11
By the peculiar arrangement of the slide valves and the formation thereby pro-
duced of a cushion for acting against the piston, or for receiving its impact, there
is produced, in combination with the hydraulic action of the cylinder B,, a certain
and quiet reversal of the engine, in such a manner that the link is moved gradually
and not with a sudden jerk.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. A reversing engine comprising two cylinders A and B, provided with a
common piston rod a, of which the one cylinder A works with compressed air or
with steam, and effects the reversing operation proper, and in which a cushion is
formed for receiving the impact of the piston D, whilst the other cylinder B works
hydraulically, and ensures a steady and uniform reversal, the arrangement being
such that the link is moved gradually, substantially as described.
2. In the reversing apparatus specified in Claim 1, the arrangement of two
slide valves b and c, which are operated with the same stroke by means of a lever d,
pivotally carried in brackets e, of which the working slide valve b closes the
exhaust 63, as soon as the port bor b is fully opened, whilst the flat slide valve c
immediately afterwards opens the port or c¹, so as to allow compressed air to
pass to the opposite side of the piston D), thereby forming a cushion to receive the
impact of said piston, substantially as described.
3. In the reversing machine specified in Claims 1 and 2, the arrangement of an
hydraulic cylinder B in which during the working. the water passes through
pipes f, f, from one side of the piston D¹, to the other side, the arrangement being
such that the position at any time of an interposed three-way cock produces either
) a quicker or slower, but always uniform movement of the piston, and thereby a
gradual movement of the link, that is to say, a quiet reversing of the engine is
produced, substantially as described.
4. The employment of the hydraulic cylinder B, specified in Claim 3, as a
reversing part acting directly upon the link, the arrangement being such that the
water which has entered through one of the pipes f¹ or få under pressure, operates
the piston D whilst the water which is situated on the opposite side of the said

page_text: piston is discharged through pipes n or n¹, with corresponding adjustable water-
cocks o or o¹ which regulate the discharge, substantially as described.
5. A form of construction of the slide valve arrangement specified in Claim 2,
wherein a slide valve is employed for the performance of work and for the formation
of a cushion, one half h, of said valve being made of D shape, and adapted to
perform the work, whilst its other half h¹ is made in the shape of a flat slide valve
with a slot k, which, immediately after the opening of a working port or coin-
cides with the port or for the purpose of allowing air to pass to the opposite
end of the cylinder A so as to form a cushion to receive the impact of the piston D,
substantially as described.
6. A form of construction of the slide valve arrangement specified in Claim 2,
in which two slide valves and m are employed which are separate from each other,
and work with unequal stroke, and which may, if desired, be operated by means of
a hand lever d, of which the latter valve m, as soon as one of the two working
ports.or is opened, connects its ports m² and m² together so that the air can
pass from one side of the piston partly to the other side and there form a cushion
to receive the impact of the piston, substantially as described.
7. Reversing engines constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as
herein before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, or
modified according to Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, or Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive of the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 31st day of Natahan 1000
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.