US1472028A - Engine - Google Patents

Description

Lamm@ J.MCB.SHARP ENGINE Filed Oct. 7. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mlm@ /4 mw Imm/70H H Y ...A H S m E@ m WW .M Hw, E. FN

ATTOWNEY Uct. 23 i923. 11,472,028 J. MCB. SHARP ENGINE Filed oct, '2. 1919 ssneetssheet 2 mmmwl J. MCB. SHARP ENGINE Filed Oct. 7 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ADMISSION l Q Y) (u RELEASE IN VEN TOR JEFFERSON MBR/DE' SHA RP ATTORNEY @et 23 T1923.

J. MCB. SHARP ENGINE Filed oct. v,

1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f @c U,

/NVENTDR JF'FERSON MS'JBRIDE SHARP ATTORNEY J. MCB. SHARP ENGINE Filed oct. 7, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 QOMAQ .QPR

NVEN 'TGR JEFFERSON MSBRIDE SHARP ATTORNEY v the ports more clearly.

Patented @et 23, i923.

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JEFFERSON I'IICBRIDE SHARP, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, SSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL TRANSIT PUMP & MACHINE COMPANY, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE.

Application filed October 7, 1919.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON MCBRIDE SHARP, citizen of the United States, residing at Gil City, in the county oi' Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which the yfollowing is a specification.

The objects, construction and operation of my improved engine are herein set forth with suiiicient clearness to enable those skilled in the respective arts of constructing and operating steam and other iiuid-actuated engines to make and use the same.

@ne object of this invention is toy provide a steam or fluid-actuated engine wherein the steam-valve will, in the main, be actuated by the steam or other actuating fluid employed to operate the engine. Another object is, to provide a steam engine in which the desired cushioning action may be readily secured without the use vof special valves for this purpose. Other objects will be disclosed in the following specification.

One form of construction whereby I attain said objects is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the Various figures of which are as follows:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the cylinder and the mechanical valve-actuating gear.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cylinder with the steam chest and valves removed to show Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section of the upper wall of the cylinder on line IV- IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the upper wall of the cylinder on line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the power cylinder on line VI-VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the power cylinder and the central line of the steam chest showing the slide valve in section and the valve-actuating piston in side elevation. l

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the slide valve.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of said valve.

Fig. l0 is a longitudinal section on line ot Fig. 8.

Fig. ll is a transverse sect-ion on line ari-m' of Fig. 8.

Serial No.y 329,007.

Fig. l2 is an inverted plan view of said valve showing the modified form of chamber. l

Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive are plan views of he port .face of the steam chest, showing the slide valve in its i'our principal positions.

It should be understood that these drawings are merely intended for the purpose of clearly illustrating one form of mechanical embodiment ot my inventive idea; one which has been found in actual practice to be productive of economy, eihciency, and smoothness of operation, but inasmuch as modifications of considerable variation from the construction shown, could be employed without departing from the scope of my inventive idea, it is not my intention to be limited to the precise construction shown in the drawings.

Before entering upon a description in detail of the construction, as illustrated, a general` statement of the predominating points of my invention will be conducive to a clear fundamental conception of same.

A. slide valve is employed in the steam chest to co-operate with the ports for the admission and release of the steam or other actuating iiuid to the bore of the cylinder and this valve is adapted to have four distinct movements for each cycle of the engine; two of these movements are substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder, or in the same directions as the movements of the power piston: these movement-s have termed pilot movements andare communicated to the slide valve, mechanically, by means of gearing connected to the piston ro The two other movements of said valve are transversely to the aXis of the cylinder, and are communicated to the slide Valve by a fluid-actuated piston. These four movements are communicated to the slide-valve in such order and sequence that it is caused at each cycle or' the engine to describe a rectangle, which may at times vary to a rhomboid, depending upon certain adjust- (SO f communication between these ports and the port of the exhaust passage, whereby steam is released from the cylinder.

The slide valve which l employ is of the n well-known D-type, the cavity or Vchamber of which is modified,-as hereafter fully explainedso as to adapt it to perform the functions due to the four positions to which it is successively actuated.

lt is the provision of the two separate steam-admission passages lfor each end of the cylinder, the relative location of the portsfor these passages in the cylinder bore, the Varrangements of the ports of these passages in the steam-chest with relation to each other and to the port of the exhaust passage together with the construction and operation of a single valve to properly cooperate with and control these ports for the admission and release of the piston-actuatingy fluid, and to secure the proper cushioning action thereby, which form the essential features of my invention. I am aware that direct acting engines have heretofore been constructed* which employ two valves for the accomplishment of substantially the same objects and functions above mentioned, but, so far as I am aware, these functions have not heretofore been accomplished by means of a single valve.

The construction, as illustrated by the drawings, is substantially as follows:

rlhe bore 1 of the working-cylinder 2 is provided with a piston 3 which may be of the usual construction;V said piston is provided with a rod 4 which extends through a stuffing-box 5 in theV Vcylinder-head 6. Said cylinder 2l is provided with a steam-chestseat 7, 'which carries the steamschest 8.

lithin said steam-chest is located a slidevalve 9 which is adapted to have a movement in a line parallel with the axis of cylinder; said valve 9 is actuated by means of a stem 19, which is 'connected to the upper end of the lever 11 by means of the valvestem-link 10', which lever is provided with a fulcrum 12 inthe sleeve or collar 13, that is carried by a tie-rod 14 which serves to connect said cylinder 2, to any other suitable appliance to be operated, such as a pump (not shown) thelower e-nd of lever 13 is connected to the piston-rod 4 through a link 15', and arms 15, that are carried by the split cross-head 16,.which is secured to said piston-rod by means ofthe bolts 17. The upper end of said lever 11 carries an eye-block 18 which is easily slidable upon said valve-stem-link lO. Tappets 19 and 20 are mounted upon said valve-stem-link 10" by means of a screw-thread, whereby adjustability is pro-r vided to secure a greater or lesser degree of actuation of said stem by said eye-block as the same contacts with said' tappets respectively, and thus to actuate saidjstem and the thereto-'connected slide-valve 9.

Various views of said valve 9 are shown in Figs. 8 to 12 and by a reference to Figs.

8, 9, 10, and 11 it will be noticed thatfsaid lvalve is provided with two actuation lugs 22, 22 between which an actuation-block 22 is located,4 and which is Secured to said stem 10 by means of .a pin 23.v An elongated slot 24 is provided through said lugs `22 forthe passage of said stem 10, Vwhereby a moveverse'rmovementof valve 9, aV piston 25 isV provided, which is carried in a suitably constructed cylindrical casing 26 located abovethe steam-chest. The respective ends of said piston are formed into a head or piston 27 and 28, which are united by a neck 29. vThe inner opposing faces 30, 30 of said heads are adapted to bear upon the end faces 31-31 of the lugs 22, for the purpose of actuating said valve 9... rl`he respective piston- heads 27 and 28 fit closely in the cylindrical casing provided therefor, thus adapting said piston to be fluid-actuated.

Themanner in which said fluid-actuation is attained willipresently be pointed out, but this will be more easily understood if the various admission and release passages and the relative varrangement of the ports thereof are first explained.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 an 13, it willV be noted that there is an admission-passage for each end of the cylinder, as 32 and'33 respectively, and'that these passages are located at and extend fparallel with` the longitudinal centerV line of the cylinder; the

sitioned in the counterbore, so that they are never covered or controlled by the piston 3. F rom the passage a steam-duct 39 leads to one end of the bore of the piston casing llO 26: from theV passage 34 a steam-duct4() y leads to the bore at the opposite end ofthe said piston casing.

The steam-inlet to the steam-chest is indicated by the reference numeral 41. n

Located between the ports 34 and 35 is the release or exhaust port 42. ll pon either side of said exhaust port is located the main admission ports 43--44. Port 43 opens into the passage 45 which leads to one end of the cylinder; the cylinder port 47 of Port'44 opens into avpassage 46 which leads to the other end of the 'cylinder5'the cylinder port of this passage is also located farther from the end of the cylinder than port 38, so that it is also covered by the piston at the interval when the piston is at this extreme end of its stroke.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the piston 3 is shown in dotted lines for the purpose of indicating its position with reference to said ports 4l and 48 as just stated; these respective positions of the piston should not, however, be considered in connection with the explanation which immediately follows.

Reverting now to the actuations and functions of the slide-valve 9, they are as follows:

Referring to Fig. 13, `note that the position of the slide-valve is shown by t-he shaded section,-which is also the case in Figs. 14, 15, and 16. It may now be readily understood that 'inasmuch as live steam is being admitted at port 41, this steam fills the steam-chest and is free to pass through port 44, passage 46, and port 48 (Fig. 5) into one end of the cylinder; steam may also pass through port 34, passage 32 and port 38 into the same end of the cylinder. Steam is also being released from the opposite end of the cylinder port 47, passage 45, port 43, and the exhaust port 42. Also at this juncture steam is being admitted through lduct 40 to one end of the valve-actuating piston 25. The next position of the slidevalve is shown in Fig. 14, which indicates that said valve has been actuated longitudinally by the valve stem 10 so as to release steam through port 34, and admit steam to the opposite end of the cylinder through port This movement of the valve is what is termed a pilot7 movement, since its function is to admit steam to and release it from the piston casing, whereby said piston-valve is caused to move transversely' and to shift the slide-valve 9 across the ports 43 and 44.

Note that in said Fig. 14 steam may pass to one end of the valve-actuating piston through the duct 39, and be released from the other end of said valve through the duct 40. This causes an actuation of said valve-actuating piston which is communicated to the slide-valve and shifts it transversely to the position shown in Fig. 16,

in which steam may be admitted to one endv of the cylinder through port 43, passa-ge 45 and port 47; steam may also be released from the opposite end of the cylinder through port 48, passage 46, port 44, and

Y the exhaust port 42 z-The next actuation from the position shown in Fig. 16, is a longitudinal actuation to cause another pilot function of the slide-valve; this position is shown in Fig. 15, and completes the cycle of operation.

A steam cushion is formed at the end of each stroke of the piston 3 in the following manner. By a reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the piston 3 when at one extreme end of the stroke covers the port 47, and at this juncture port 35 is also covered by the slide-valve 9; there being, therefore, no further release or escape for the steam, it is compressed and forms an efficient cushion to arrest the momentum of the piston prior to the reversal of its movement. High speed is therefore attainable with this construction.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 12 of the drawings, which is an inverted plan view of the slide-valve.

From the foregoing description of the functions of this valve, the object of the diagonal lines a-a of the valve will readily appear, which is to cause the valve, upon its transverse movements to close the ports 35 and 34, as shown in Figs. 13 and 16 respectively.

From the foregoing description it will readily be noted that I am enabled, by means of a simple rectilineally movable slide valve of the D-type, to secure certain objects which heretofore have been secured only by means of oscillating, cylindrical pistons, 0r pistons operating in a cylindrical chamber; such pistons are not only difficult and expensive to construct, but, unlike valves of the D-type, they are unable to follow up their own wear and when they become slightly worn they must be renewed, and the cylindrical chamber in which they operate must be rebored in order' to secure the original eihciency. Furthermore, all rotative valves are liable to stick, either from expansion due to heat, or from ru-st, and are thereforek unreliable, expensive to operatc, and difiicult to keep in repair. A valve of the Detype is not subject to any of these objections, and all engineers and operatives are familiar with its construction and operation.

From. an inspection of the inverted plan view, Fig. 12, it will readily be noted that the chamber or exhaust cavity of the valve 9, as delined at the seating face of said valve, has a substantially rhomboidal form: This particular form is for the lpurpose of adapting said valve to control the ports 34 and 35. The function of said valve, relative to the ports 42, 43 and 44, is affected by its relatively transverse movement only,-that is, the movement caused bythe valve-actuating pistonawhereas the functions of said valve 9 in relation to said ports 34 and 35, are affected by both its longitudinal and transverse movements, as will be noted by a reference to Figs. 13, 14, 15 a-nd 16.

l claim the following:

1. A single cylinder engine comprising in combination, a power cylinder, a piston operativc in the boreof said cylinder, said cylinder being provided with a plurality of steam passages'leading to the same end of to govern all ot' said steam chest ports for the admission of steam to said steam passages and the release ot same tr m all ot them into said release passage as and lor `the purpose set toi-th, a "l means arranged to actuater said valve accordingly, said means including a stem connected directly to said valve to which stem i'i'ievcment is transmitted by suitable inter?.ietate mechanism from the rod el said piston, also l.cam-actuated pi on operably connected to said valve so as to actuate same in a plane transversely te the actuation ot said stem.

21A single cylinder engine comprising in combinatioi'i,V a power cylinder, a piston operative in said cylinder provided with the usual piston-rod, a steam chest carried by said cylinder, two primary steam passages leading respectively trom said steam chest into the opposite ends ol" the bore of sal-1l cylinder, the port which opens from each el' said passages into said bore being positioned so asl to be covered by the piston when at the respective extremes et its stroke, two secondary steam passages leading spectively into opposite ends ot the bore of said cylinderjthe ports which open fromv said secondary into said bore be` ing positioned at theezitreme ends et said bore respectively so not to be covered by said piston when at the respective'extremes ot its stroke, an exhaust passage leading from said steam chest to the atmosphere, a rectilincally-movable valve ott theV D type operable to etl'ect the admission oi steam trom said steam chest into the bore of said cylinder through said Steam passage and the release of same from said primary passage, so the partial release et same from said secondary passage through said exhaust pas sage, and means actuating said valve accordingly which means includes a longitudinallyreciprocatingl stem connected to said valve, actuated through suitable intermediate mechanism from said piston `rod and in alinement therewith, also a steam-actuated piston operably connected to said valve sov as to actuate saine in a plane transversely to the actuation oi said stem.

3. lin an engine in combination, a power cylinder, a .power piston operative in said cylinder, a steam-chest carried by said cylinder,two primary steam passages leading chest into the counter-bore oit said cylinder,

a release Vpassage said passages being provided each with a port 'communicating with said steam-chest, said steam passagesbeing also communicable' with Vsaid release passages; a valve ol the D, type in said steamchest adapted to co-operate with and to govern kall ot said ports tot: the purposes set 'erth, and means `tor actuating said valve, comprising a valve stem operablyconnected to said power piston, and a steam-actuated piston also operably connected to said valve, the steanractuation for said last-inentioned piston being controlled by said valve.

Il. ln an engine, in combination, a `power cylinder provided with a steam chest, and having a plurality of steam passages leading ulli-om said chest to the same end of the bore et said cylinder, each through its respective port in said chest and said cylinder, said cylinder ports varying as to their location longitudinally orn the cylinder-bore, a release port insaid steam chest co-operative with 'all said other ports therein, a slide valve el the D type governing all of said steam chest ports, means :for actuating said valve accordingly comp sing a 'valve-stem connected to a suitably-operative element ot the engine, and a steam-actuated piston, steam tor the actuation ot which is controlled vby said Ivalve, and a piston operative in said cylinder, adapted to co-operate with the cylinder-port ot one et said passages, for the purpose set forth.

5. ln an engine,'in combination, cylind er provided with a steam chest,v and having a plurality ol' steam passagesV leading fromY said chest to the same end oli' the bore oic said cylinder,f each through its respective port in said chest and said cylinder, said cylinder ports varying as to their location longitudinally of the cylinder bore, a re lease port in said steam chest co-operative with all said other ports therein, a slide valve of the i3 type having a chamber ot a substantially rhomboidal term, whereby, conjointly with the various positions assumed during the movements et said valve, it is adapted to co-operate with and govern all el' said steam chest ports, means-for actuating said valve accordingly, and a piston operative in said cylinder and overrunning'one of said cylinder ports for the purpose set forth.

6. ln an engine, in combination, a power cylinder, a steam chest'carried by said cylinder, said cylinder being provided with two steam passages leading through separate ports from saidsteam chest to the same end Yec of the bore of said cylinder, and each communicating with said bore by means of a port, one of which ports is positioned within the limit of travel of the power piston, the other of said ports being positioned beyond said limit of travel, a release port for said steam chest adapted for co-operation with said other ports of the steam chest, a slide valve of the D type having an exhaust chamber of substantially rhomboidal form whereby it is adapted to govern all of said steam chest ports for the purposes set forth, which includes the closure of one of the ports to produce a final cushioning of the power piston as one of said purposes, means for actuating said valve comprising a. suitablyactuated valve stem and a steam-actuated piston operably connected to said valve, steam for the actuation of said last-mentioned piston being controlled by said valve, and a piston operative in said power cylinder overrunning said port which is positioned within said limit of its travel.

7. In an engine, in combination, a power cylinder, a piston operative therein and provided With the usual piston-rod, a steam chest carried by said cylinder, two steam passages leading through separate ports in said steam chest to the same end of the bore of said cylinder and oommunicating therewith through separate ports, one of which is positioned to be overlapped by said piston at the end of its stroke, the other of said ports being positioned at the extreme end of said cylinder so as not to be overrun by said piston, a valve of the D type having a chamber which, upon the valve face, is substantially rhomboidal in form, carried in said steam chest and adapted to have tworelatively transverse movements whereby and in conjunction with said rhomboidal form of its chamber it is adapted to govern the admission of steam to said cylinder and the release of same therefrom through all of said passages, means actuated by said piston for transmitting one of said movements to said valve, and a steam-actuated, longitudinal movable piston adapted to transmit said other movement to said valve, the steam for the actuation of said last-mentioned piston being controlled by said valve.

8. An engine comprising, in combination, a power cylinder, a piston operative in said cylinder and provided with the usual pistonrod, a steam chest carried by said cylinder, a primary steam passage leading from a port in said steam chest to a port adjacent to one end of the bore of said cylinder positioned so as to be overlapped and closed by said piston at the related end of its stroke, a secondary steam passage leading from a port in said steam chest to a secondary port in the bore of said cylinder positioned so as not to be closed by said piston, a release port in said steam chest, a valve of the D type in said steam chest having two movements relatively transvierse each to the other controlling all of said steam chest ports as and for the various purposes set forth, a steam-actuated, longitudinally-movable, valve-actuating piston.

mounted Yin proximity to said slide valve operably connected thereto so as to move the same in one ofisaid directions, means for alternately admitting steam to and releasing same from the respective ends of said actuating piston to cause said pistonactuation, and means operably connected to said piston-rod for actuating said valve in said other direction.

9. In an engine, the combination of a power piston and a controlling valve for the actuating medium for said piston, actuating means for said valve consisting of a mechanically actuated stem operably connected to said valve, a Huid-actuated piston also connected to said valve, the actuating fluid for said last-mentioned piston being controlled by said valve; said power piston and said valve being adapted and co-operating to produce a cushioning of said power piston `at the end of its stroke.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JEFFERSON MCBRIDE SHARP.

Witnesses:

T. L. BLAIR, MARY RIDDLE.

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