US461896A - Valve for compound engines - Google Patents

Description

QNo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l* J. H. EIGKERSHOPP.

VALVE FOR COMPOUND'BNGINES.

Noymg. l 'Paten ed oww/31891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. EIGKERSHOFF.

VALVE EUR GOMPOUND ENGINES.

110.461,896. Patented Oct.27,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

`JOHN I'I. EICKERSIIOFF, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

VALVE FOR COlVlPOUND ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,896, dated October 27, 1891.

Application led August 5. 1891. Serial No.401,809. (No modeLl .T0 all whom it may concer-n,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. EICKERsHoFE, a citizen of the United States` residing at Cincinnati, in the county of, Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valves for Compound Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to compound steamengines, its object being to improve the same in respect to the steam distribution, and, as applied to engines of two or more cylinders, to economize in structure and cost, in addition.

'lo this end my invention consists, primarily, in anovel distribution-valve, which is cheaply made and efficient in operation, tending to simplicity of structure in the co-operating parts of the engine, to conservation of heat, and generally to a more efficient and economical distribution and utilization of steam. Moreover, the valve, by reason of 'its structural features, is applicable to a Wide range of types of engines of the class indicated.

Mechanism illustrating my invention is shown in the accompanying` drawings, in Which- Figure l is a partial vertical section, in the common axial plane of the cylinders, of a common type of compound engines having a high and a low pressure cylinder with doubleacting reciprocating pistons coupled to the same shaft, the valve being shown in crosssection; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the cylinders through the axial plane of the valve; Figs. 3 and Il, diagram sections showing the constructive arrangement of the valve-chest ports in an isometric plane, with the valve at opposite positions of its reciprocation.

One of the leading principles of my improvement is the economy of heat and consequent increase of efficiency in thc engine by separating in the valve structure the ports and passages devoted, first, to steam-induction; second, to expansion over, and, third, to iinal exhaust, these being entirely independent and arranged relatively in their natural order, as here named. These ports and passages being independent of eachother, proper compression can be obtained, and also heatis conserved to a much greater degree than in structures where the different functions are performed by and in the same Valve-passages The construction is such also as enables a single valve to perform the entire distributive functions of two or more cylinders Withgreat facility and with the advantages named.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in aid of the following description, A B, Figs. 1 and 2, designate the cylinders, respectively, of a compound engine having one high and one low pressure cylinder with double-acting pistons A B', coupling to oppositely-set cranks of a common crank-shaft S. The type being common, I need not detail the structure except as related to the construction and arrangementof valve and ports.

The distribution-valve C is a reciprocating piston-valve operating in a cylindrical valvechest D, arranged, by preference, between the cylinders at mid-length and perpendicular (or approximately so) tothe common axial plane of the cylinders.

The valve C consists of an elongated piston having three circumferential grooves c c2 o3 in consecutive order, separated by intervening partitions 2.72293, carrying packing-rings fr, numbered (with others to be referred to later) as hereinafter stated.

Beginning with vthe live-steam end of the valve C, the live-steam passage C is an open groove bounded laterally at one sideby the end partition p of the valve, carrying packing-rings r r2, and at the other by the intervening partition p2, carrying a packing-ring r3. Next in consecutive order is the expansion-passage c2, bounded at thelive-steam side by the partition p2, carrying the packing-ring r3, (as stated,) and at the other by the partition p3, carrying the packing-ring r4. This groove is open at each end outwardly adjacent to the partitions p2p?, but covered centrally by a shell S', connected across the circumferential openings by suitable bridges b and closely fitting the valve-cylinder C, but without packing-rings, the groove forming a longitudinal passage between its openings loeneath the shell S. The third and last in consecutive order is the exhaustgroove c3, bounded at the expansion side by the partition p4 and opening at the other into the exhaust end of the valve-chest C, into which the exhaustpipe F enters. The groove c3 opens outwardly adjacent to the partition p3, but extends through the exhaust end of the valve beneath a shell S2, carrying packing-rings fri r6.

IOO

The construction of the valve chest and ports and the operation of the valve may be best understood from the isometric diagrams, F1gs. 3 and 4. Live steam enters the chest through the opening L, with which the groove c 1s in constant communication. The passage CZ, leading to the top of the high-pressure cylinder, divides and enters the valvechest by two ports CZ cl2 in different planes, while the passage e, leading to the bottom of the high-pressure cylinder, enters the valvevchest at e midway between the planes of the ports d cl2. The passage f, leading to the bottom of the low-pressure cylinder, divides and enters the valve-chest by two ports f f2 in different planes, while the passage g, leading` to the top of the low-pressure cylinder, enters the valve-chest by the port g midway between the plane of the ports ff2. In the position of the valve shown in Fig. 3 steam from the boiler flows into the valve-chest D, through the groove c of the valveintotheport d (the port d2 being closed by the shell S) and passage cl, and to the upper end of the high-pressure cylinder A, above the piston A', and drives the same downward. At the same time the steam beneath the piston A by expansion flows through the port and passage e c, through the expansion-passage c2 of the valve across to the port f2 and passage f, (the portf being closed by the shell S2,) and enters the bottom of the low-In'essnre cylinder, driving the piston B upward. In the 'opposite position of the valve the course of the live steam is through valve-passage c', cylinder-port e', and passage e to the bottom of the high-pressure cylinder, while the course of the expansion steam is back through passage d, port d2, valve-passage c2, cylinderport g, and passage g to top of low-pressure cylinder.

The valve is applicable to a wide range of types, which I have not thought it necessary to illustrate. v

I have given preference to the arrangement of the valve-chest between the cylinders and perpendicular to their common axial plane,

because the valve-chest is thus brought into a central uniform relation with all the ports and passages. This, however, is not essential, as the valve may be arranged vertically between the cylinders and operated by a direct connection with the eccentric or wholly at one side of the two cylinders, either parallel or at right angles to their common axial plane.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a compound engine, in combination with the working cylinders and their pistons, a single reciprocating self-balanced pistonvalve having a live-steam port, an expansionport, and an exhaust-port wholly within the.

limits of the valve, adapted to perform the several functions of steam-induction, expansion over, and final exhaust of steam for the cylinders in common, substantially as set forth.

2. In a compound engine having two cylinders or sets of cylinders in a common plane, a reciprocating piston-valve adapted to perform the several functions of steam-induction, expansion over, and final exhaust for the cylinders in common, arranged between the cylinderstransversely across and through their common axial plane, substantially as set forth. l

3. A distribution-valve for compound engines, consisting,substantially, of a reciprocating balanced piston-valve having a livesteam passage, an expansion-passage, and an exhaust-passage arranged in longitudinal succession in the order named wholly within the limits of the valve, each being complete and independent, in combination with a suitablyported seat whereby the several functions are performed in and by said valve-passages, each appropriated exclusively to its proper function, substantially as set forth.

4. A self-balanced piston-valve for effecting the induction, expansion over, and exhaust for compound engines, having a livesteam passage near one end, an expansionpassage central, and an exhaust-passage near the opposite end, all within the limits of the valve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN II. EICKERSHOFR Witnesses:

L. M. HosEA, E. HosEA.

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