Improvements in and relating to Starting, Reversing, and Cut-off Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Starting, Reversing, and Cut-off
Engines.
GEORGE
We, ALEXANDER
ALEXANDER
MORTON STRATHERN, and
STRATHERN, both of 118 Broomielaw, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts of starting, reversing, and cut-off
engines and their valve gear which will make such engines more simple and
efficient than as heretofore constructed.
Under one arrangement of our improvements the starting or reversing engine
The
would consist of a steam cylinder standing upright with its base cast on.
cylinder cover would also have cast on it the framing for carrying the necessary
gearing and fitted tandem on top with an oil, water or other liquid cataract
cylinder. The piston rod passes through a stuffing box on steam cylinder cover
and is cottered on to a slotted crosshead which is also cottered to the rod passing
through a stuffing box on the lower end of cataract or locking cylinder. The
slotted crosshead engages with a pin fixed on the side of a lever which is secured
to and oscillates a weigh shaft passing across and carried in bearings at one side of
frame between the cylinders. On one of this shaft is secured a quadrant or
segmental angled toothed lever at right angles to the lever engaging with cross-
head. The quadrant lever is toothed on the outer segment and gears with a worm
the shaft of which may pass through an eccentric sleeve or have an oscillating
bearing sliding block to the front of the engine, and is fitted with a hand wheel.
This gear is for reversing the engine by hand when steam is not available to do it
automatically. The eccentric sleeve or sliding block is for throwing the worm out
of gear when working the engine by steam. Or otherwise instead of using the
disengaging eccentric sleeve or sliding bearing block for taking the worm of gear,
a gripping or clasp screw nut might be mounted on the lever, instead of a
segmental screw wheel for engaging and disengaging with the worm on the hand
wheel shaft, the clasp nut being actuated by a hand lever, or a hand screw wheel
mounted on the lever; and by an alternative arrangement, instead of mounting a
separate segmental lever on one end of the weigh shaft, to be directly actuated by
the hand wheel screw shaft, a segmental spur wheel may be mounted on the lever
of the weigh shaft itself beyond the crosshead, working into a spur pinion on a
separate shaft mounted in bearings on the back of the framing, on the overhung
end of which second shaft, a screw wheel would be mounted, into which the
disengaging worm on the hand lever shaft would work to actuate the weigh lever
and shaft direct by the first motion lever of the crosshead. The cataract cylinder
is fitted with a stuffing box on top end through which the rod passes up and is
fitted with a joint and connecting rod carried to the weigh shaft of main engine.
The rod passing through upper end of cataract cylinder may be guided in a
suitable manner if the length of stroke renders such necessary. The valve for
admitting steam to the steam cylinder is of a circular or segmental form
Working in a cylindrical chamber or casing at right angles to and formed or fitted
in the centre of the cylinder the steam and exhaust ports in the valve and cylinder
face plate being formed parallel or side by side and at an angle to the centre line
of the chamber. This valve is reciprocated longitudinally by a hand lever
oscillating from a convenient projection on the framing or steam cylinder casing.
The valve chamber is fitted with a stuffing box at each end through which passes
the valve spindles. The spindle passing through the front end of the chamber is

page_text: worked by the hand lever and used for the reciprocating motion only in the
direction of the axis of the rod and valve while the spindle passing through the
back end of the chamber has its inner end made square and engages with snugs on
the back of the steam valve, while the outer end is fitted with a small crank
connected by a rod to a similar crank on one end of the shaft across the framing to
oscillate it in the circumferential direction of the valve. When the slide valve
(which is made to the same angle as the ports in the valve chamber) is reciprocated
by the hand lever so as to admit steam to the cylinder the piston is moved outwards
and inwards giving motion to the oscillating cross shaft which motion is imparted
to the square valve spindle by means of the cranks and connecting rod before
mentioned and causes the valve to turn and cut off the steam. A bar is cast
across the exhaust port of the steam valve which will cover the exhaust port in the
chamber in the central position of the hand lever, and so lock the piston in any
desired position. Or the steam valve may be flat as in a common slide valve with
the ports formed in the same manner as for the circular valve and the valve made
so as to cut off steam in the same way by the turning of the valve spindle actuating
the valve by an eccentric or by a rack and quadrant on back of slide valve, and
the valve thereby have a cross motion. The valve when used as a cut off
controlled by a governor is either circular or flat and moved across or round
the cylindrical valve chamber and is actuated by a lever or valve spindle working
with its outer end against two inclined planes which are brought together or
separated by the action of the governor thus regulating the cut-off. The outer
edges of this valve only can be angled and the edges of the inner or exhaust port
can be left square to the line of the travel of the valve and require no cross
bridge in the exhaust. In locomotive engines the steam may be used either direct
from the boiler, or where the train is fitted with an air brake the air for the
starting engine may be used.
By a further improvement for the larger type of starting or reversing engines
a circular valve chamber may be cast on the oil or liquid cataract or locking
cylinder with angular ports opening to each end of the cylinder and a valve made
to the same angle working over one of these ports, by the same means as the
steam valve and arranged so that the one hand lever works both or the flat
arrangement of valve may be used in this cataract cylinder. The cataract valve
would also be connected to the automatic cut-off arrangement of the steam valve
and be turned in the same manner so as to close the port and effectually lock the
piston in the desired position, automatically worked from the main valve gearing of
the engine; or this valve or a cock in the ports or port casing of the cataract
cylinder might be actuated by a hand lever arrangement, throwing out the
automatic connection for the time being. An alternative simple arrangement
(where overhead space is limited) would be to place both steam and liquid cataract
cylinder on the same base, suitable framing being cast on the cylinder covers for
guiding the piston rods and carrying the necessary gear. Both piston rods would
be connected to the same crosshead and all the actuating gear of the valves would
be similar to that described in the preceding arrangement. In any of these
improved arrangements of engine, the cylinders may be placed horizontally as
well as vertically or at an angle.
Dated the 29th November 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Starting, Reversing, and Cut-off
Engines.
We, ALEXANDER MORTON STRATHERN, and ALEXANDER GEORGE STRATHERN,
both of 118 Broomielaw, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing,
that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction,
or arrangement and combination of the parts, of starting and reversing cut-off
engines and their valve gear, which will make such engines more simple and efficient
than as heretofore constructed.
And in order that our said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended three explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 represent elevations at right angles to each other, of
one arrangement of starting and reversing engine with the steam and cataract
cylinders placed vertically tandem-ways, and as fitted with our new arrangement of
cut-off valve and operating mechanism.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the circular or segmental steam cut-off valve
detached, the cylinder and ports being shown in Figure 2.
And
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the valve as taken on the line 1-1 in
Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 on Sheet 2 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2,
Figure 5 being shown partly in section, of another arrangement of our improve-
ments, in which a flat cut-off valve shown as fitted to both the steam and cataract
cylinders, both being operated in unison, and the arrangement of hand operating
gearing is also modified from that shown in the arrangement Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 7 is a plan view partly in section corresponding to and as taken above the
weigh shaft in Figure 5. While
Figures 8 and 9 are a longitudinal face view, and an end view respectively of the
cut-off valves on the steam and cataract cylinders and their connecting and operating
spindle. And
Figures 10 and 11 on Sheet 3 are elevations at right angles to each other of
another arrangement of our improvements in which the steam aud cataract
cylinders are placed parallel side by side.
Referring first to the arrangement of our improvements shown on Sheet 1, the
starting and reversing engine consists of a steam cylinder A, standing upright with
its base cast on. The cylinder cover A', has also cast on it the framing A", for
carrying the necessary gearing, and there is fitted tandem on top an oil, water, or
other liquid cataract cylinder B. The piston rod A2 passes through a stuffing
box A³ or steam cylinder cover and is cottered at A, on to a slotted crosshead C,
which is also cottered at B to the rod B2 passing through a stuffing box B³ on the
lower end of cataract or locking cylinder B. The slotted crosshead C engages
with or is secured by a pin passing through a double jawed lever D¹, D', seen more
particularly in Figure 7 Sheet 2, which is secured to and oscillates a weigh
shaft D passing across and carried in bearings at D", D", at the one end of frame
between the cylinders A, B. On this shaft D is secured a quadrant or segmental
angled toothed lever D2 at right angles to the lever D', D', secured to or engaging
with crosshead C. The quadrant lever D2 is toothed at D³, on the outer segment
and gears with a worm E, the shaft E of which may pass through an eccentric
sleeve at E', or have an oscillating bearing sliding block to the front of the engine,

page_text: and is fitted with a hand wheel E". This gear is for operating or reversing the
engine by hand, when steam is not available to do it automatically, by simply
turning the hand lever E³, of the eccentric sleeve E', to its lowest position and
bringing the worm wheel 2 into gear with the quadrant wheel D³ and operating
the hand wheel .E". And the worm E, is thrown out of gear with the wheel D³,
when working the engine by steam, by turning the hand lever E³ of the eccentric
sleeve E to the up position as shown in Figure 1. Or otherwise instead of using
the disengaging eccentric sleeve E' or sliding bearing block for taking the worm E²
out of gear, a gripping or clasp screw nut might be mounted on the lever D²
instead of a segmental screw wheel D³ for engaging and disengaging with the
worm E on the hand wheel shaft E, the clasp nut being actuated by a hand lever,
or a hand screw wheel mounted on the lever. By an alternative arrangement, as
shown in Figures 5 to 7, instead of mounting a separate segmental lever D² on the
weigh shaft D, to be directly actuated by the hand wheel screw shaft E, as in the
arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a segmental spur wheel D³ may be mounted
on the lever D² of the weigh shaft D itself beyond the crosshead C, working into a
spur pinion F on a separate stud spindle or shaft F, mounted in bearings on the
back of the framing, on the overhung end of which second shaft F a screw wheel F²
is mounted into which the disengaging worm E² on the hand lever shaft E works to
actuate the weigh lever D2 and shaft D direct. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the
cataract cylinder B is fitted with a stuffing box on top end at B¹ through which the
rod B2 passes up and is fitted with a joint at B" to which is attached a connecting
rod leading to the weigh shaft of main engine. The rod B² passing through upper
end of cataract cylinder B, may be guided in a suitable manner if the length of
stroke renders such necessary. The liquid would be introduced to the cataract
cylinder B through a plug at B, and pass from the one side of the piston to the
other and vice versa through a longitudinal space at B', being regulated by a screw
pin at B. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the valve a for admitting steam to the
steam cylinder A, is of a circular or segmental form working in a cylindrical
chamber or casing a' at right angles to and formed or fitted in the centre of the
cylinder A Figure 2, the steam and exhaust ports a² in the valve a and cylinder
face plate a being formed parallel or side by side and at an angle to the centre line
of the chamber. This valve a is reciprocated longitudinally by a hand lever b²
oscillating from a convenient bracket or projection at on the framing or steam
cylinder casing. The valve chamber a is fitted with a stuffing box 6', c¹, at each
end through which passes the valve spindles b, c. The spindle 6 passing through the
front end of the chamber a, is worked by the hand lever and used for the
reciprocating motion only in the direction of the axis of the rod 6 and valve a;
while the spindle e passing through the back end of the chamber has its inner
end c" made flat or square and engages with snugs a" on the back of the steam
valve a, as shown in Figures 3 and 4; while the outer end of the spindle chas
attached to it at the one end of a lever d Figure 1, having its other end attached
at d to a connecting rod d leading to a lever or oscillating link 2 attached to the
lever D2 of or the weigh shaft D, so as to communicate an oscillatory or vibratory
motion to the valve a to cut off steam in the casing a'. The lever d is formed with
a slotted end where the rod d" is jointed to it by a pin at d¹ so as to regulate the
extent of motion or travel of the lever d, to cut-off steam to any desired extent.
When the slide valve a (which is made to the same angle as the ports a² in the
valve chamber a¹.) is reciprocated by the hand lever 62 so as to admit steam to the
cylinder A the piston is moved outwards and inwards giving motion to the oscillating
cross shaft D which motion is imparted to the flat or square valve spindle c¹¹ by:
. means of the levers and connecting links before mentioned and causes the valve a
to turn and cut-off the steam. A bar a is cast across the central or exhaust port
of the steam valve a which will cover the exhaust port in the chamber in the
central position of the hand lever 2, or in any position when the steam is cut off,
and so lock the piston in any desired position.

page_text: As shown in Figures 5 to 9 on Sheet 2, the steam valve a may be flat as in a
common slide valve, with the parts formed in an equivalent manner to that for the
circular valve shown on Sheet 1, and the valve be made so as to cut-off steam in
the same way by the turning of the valve spindle c actuating the valve a by a
segmental wheel or quadrant c" on the spindle c and a rack a" on the back of slide
valve a, as dotted in, in Figure 9, or this movement may be given by an eccentric,
or its equivalent, and the valve thereby have a cross motion, to cut-off the steam.
By a further improvement for the larger type of starting or reversing engines
a square or flat valve chamber a' as shown on Sheet 2, but it might be a circular
valve chamber as shown on Sheet 1, would or may be cast on the oil or liquid
cataract or locking cylinder B with angular ports a² opening to each end of the
cylinder B, and a valve made to the same angle working over one of these ports,
by the same means as the steam valve a and arranged so that the one hand lever b²
works both. The cataract valve would also be connected to the automatic cut-off'
arrangement of the steam valve and be operated in the same manner so as to close
the port and effectually lock the piston in the desired position automatically
worked from the main valve gearing of the engine. This is accomplished as
shown on Sheet 2 by having the spindle c, of the valve a in the casing a', of the
steam cylinder A continued longitudinal along to actuate the valve a, in the
cataract cylinder B, by a segmental wheel and rack c", a", the same as in the steam
cylinder A. In this case a spring c³ is fitted in the cylinder B, to have a bearing
tension on the valve a over the ports a². In this arrangement the end of the
lever would be mounted on a guide bracket and have a segmental bevel
wheel d³ attached to it by a square boss eye and stud at d¹¹, said wheel d³ gearing
into a corresponding wheel, with square eyed boss mounted with a bearing
bracket and washer behind it at , on the shaft c, so as to have free longitudinal
movement and also to oscillate or vibrate this spindle c, pinion and rack c¹¹, all,
and valve a, through the levers and rods d to " from the crosshead C or weigh
shaft D, and simultaneously cut off the steam and liquid to both cylinders A, B,
or operate both with the hand gear when the steam is shut off.
In this arrange-
ment the rod d may either be connected direct to the crosshead C as shown, or
by the link d² to the lever D2 of the weigh shaft D, and links B" are led from the
crosshead C to connect the weigh shaft of main engines.
An alternative simple arrangement (where overhead space is limited) would be
to place both steam and liquid cataract cylinders A, B, on the same base, suitable
framing being cast on the cylinder covers for guiding the piston rods and carrying
the necessary gear. This is accomplished as shown in Figures 10 and 11 on
Sheet 3, by continuing the piston rods A2, B2, of the steam and cataract
cylinders A, B, parallelly up and bolting or connecting to them vertical bars G, G',
guided by rollers G" on their outer surface and formed with rack teeth on their
inner surface, gearing into a central rack wheel G2, mounted on a spindle D, free
to rotate or oscillate with it in bearings in the side framing A". The spindle D,
has a rod or lever d² attached to it to which is connected the one end of the rod d",
having its other end attached to the oscillating lever or link d. This lever d is
attached to and actuates the spindle c of the steam cut-off valve in the same
manner as described in reference to Figures 1 to 4 on Sheet 1. A segmental
wheel F2 is mounted on the spindle D to rotate in unison with the wheel G³, and
a worm E2 on the spindle E would be put into gear by an eccentric sleeve and
hand wheel E", when the steam power is not in use to actuate the engine,
and otherwise act in an equivalent manner to the arrangement shown in Figures 1
to 4 Sheet 1. A connection would be made at B", from the rack G leading to
the weigh shaft of main engines.
In any of these improved arrangements of engine, the cylinders may be placed
horizontally as well as vertically or at an angle.
In locomotive engines the steam may be used either direct
where the train is fitted with an air brake the air may
engine.
from the boiler, or
d for the starting

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of starting
and reversing engines with cut-off valves and valve gear, substantially as and
operated in the manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Second. In starting and reversing engines the construction and use of a cut-off
valve on the steam cylinder operated by connecting mechanism from the recipro-
cation of the crosshead or piston rod of the engine, substantially as herein described
in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In starting and reversing engines, the arrangement and use of cut-off
valves on the steam and the cataract cylinders operated by connecting mechanism
from the reciprocation of the crosshead or the piston rod of the engine, substantially
as herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Fourth. In starting and reversing engines, the arranging or placing of the ports
in the valve casing and valve at an angle with the longitudinal centre line, for the
purpose of cutting off the supply of steam or fluid, substantially as herein described
in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In starting and reversing engines, the combination comprising a weigh
shaft or its equivalent operated by a lever from the crosshead or piston rod of the
engine, and connecting levers and links to operate or give an oscillatory or
vibratory motion to the valve spindle and valve by moving organs or toothed
gearing, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and
by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 27th August 1891.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.