(No Model.) E. HILL, METHOD OF GOVERNING THE MOVEMENTS OF IN STEAMENGINEs. No. 446,183, Patented Feb. 10, 1891. Zey. Z %

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The nošRIs Peters co, PHoTo-Litho. washington, D., c. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E BEN E ZER HILL OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT. METHOD OF GOVERNING THE MOVEMENTS OF PSTONS IN STEAM-ENGINES,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,188, dated February 10, 1891. Application filed October 31, 1887, Serial No. 253,806, (No model.) To all whom it navy concern. locity during the first part of the Beit known that I, EBENEZER HILL, of South greater than the average of the entire stroke, Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State and then reduce the velocity of the said parts 55 of Connecticut, have invented a new Improve below that average during the last part of the 5 ment in the Method of Governing the Move stroke. ments of Pistons in Steam-Engines; and I The means which I prefer to use for the - do hereby declare the following, when taken government of the stroke is what is com in connection with accompanying drawings monly called a “cataract-,’ and it is and the letters of reference marked thereon, in direct connection with the , through to be a full, clear, and exact description of the which the for the admission and ex same, and which said drawings constitute haust of steam from the steam-cylinder is part of this specification, and represent, in controlled; but before particularly describing Figure 1, a sectional side view of a steam the cataract-cylinder I will generally describe pump embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a de a pump embodying the invention, as illus tached longitudinal Section of the cataract trated in Fig. 1. - cylinder enlarged; Figs. 3 and 4, modifica A represents the steam-cylinder, and B the tions in the cataract-cylinder. pump-cylinder, both of common construction, This invention relates to an improvement arranged in the same axial line, with a single in governing the movement of pistons in piston-rod C, which acquires its movement steam-engines, more particularly appplicable through the piston D in the cylinder A. to direct-acting engines, such as employed in E is the steam-chest of the cylinder A, in connection with steam-pumps, but applicable which is represented a common slide-valve F. to other engines. G represents a lever, which is hung by one 75 In illustrating liny invention I show it as end indirectly to the piston-rod, as at H, but 25 applied to a steam-pump. If in such a pump so that that point of connection will move the piston begins its stroke under a full head with the piston-rod C. The other end of the of steam, all the moving parts will start at a lever G is hung by a link I to the valve-rod J. speed greatly above the average speed, then of the valve F, the fulcrum of the lever G being if during the stroke the steam be cut off between its two ends, and as here represented, the expanding steam will exercise its power produced by a link K. Under this arrange to complete the stroke, but in so doing will ment it will be observed that as the piston be aided by the inertia of the said moving moves in one direction-say from left to parts. The value of inertia in thus aiding in right-the movement of the valve F will be the movement of the piston has heretofore in the opposite direction, and so that as the 35 been recognized; but in all governing devices piston advances the inlet-port will be closed the aim has been to maintain uniform speed, and the valve continue its movement in the and the inertia has been acquired by great opposite direction until the piston reaches weight of parts. - the opposite end of the cylinder, when the Inertia depends on two factors: first, the port on that side of the cylinder will be ad weight of the moving parts, and, second, the opened and admit steam to move the piston velocity of the said moving parts. It is evi in the opposite direction, So that so far as the dent, therefore, that the higher the velocity action of the lever G and the valve-rod J are the greater the inertia. . concerned the movement of the valve would 95 The object of my invention is to utilize the be continuous throughout the stroke of the 45 force of inertia to a greater extent than can piston, but in opposite directions. be done under the usual method of governing L represents a smaller Steam-cylinder, which the movement of a steam-piston wherein a is parallel with the cylinder A, and as here uniform speed of the moving parts is aimed represented is upon the steam-chest E. This ICO at; and the invention consists, principally, in cylinder L is provided with the usual steam 50 automatically governing throughout the whole chest M and common slide-valve, as repre stroke the admission of steam to the piston sented, N indicating the steam-valve rod of and so as to impart to the moving parts a ve the cylinder L. 446,188 O represents the piston-rod of the cylinder must pass to the retreating side of the piston TL, and P represents a lever, one end of which as the piston advances, and that the velocity. is hung at a stationary point, say as at R, with which the piston can thus travel through upon the pump-cylinder. The other end of the the cylinder depends upon the rapidity with lever P is hung to the piston-rod O by a link which the fluid can escape from the advanc S, and the link K connects the lever G with ing to the retreating side of the piston. The the lever P. It will be apparent that if the valve on the advancing side of the piston will piston of the cylinder L travels also from left be closed because of the pressure of the fluid 75 to right its action will be to open the valve C against it; but as the piston reverses at the O of the cylinder A-that is, will cause the respective ends of the cylinder the action of valve F of the cylinder A to move in the di the fluid upon the then advancing side of the rection of the piston of its own cylinder. piston is to move the in the opposite T represents a cataract-cylinder to govern direction, open the valve upon the retreating the movement of the piston in the cylinder L. side, and close the valve upon the then ad The valve-rod N of the cylinder is repre vancing side. The length of the two con sented as actuated by a lever U, one end in nected valves is such that the valve will come connection with the valve-rod, the other end against its end of the cylinder, so that at the connected to the piston-rod C by a link V, extreme position of the cylinder both valves the fulcrum W of the lever being between its will be open to allow a passage through the two points of connection, and as shown. piston from one side to the other, and so that A cataract-cylinder provided with a passage as the piston starts to advance fluid from the leading from one side of the piston to the op advancing side may readily pass through the posite side, designed to produce a uniform valve to the opposite side until the piston speed of piston, with a throttling-valve be shall have moved so far that the valve is free 25 tween, is a common and well-known expedi to automatically close under the action of the ent, and are what are commonly termed fluid. “isochronous’ engines. The piston of the cataract-cylinder starts What I deem as the best construction of under the action of the steam-piston in con 95 cataract-cylinder, whereby the object of my nection there with, and as it starts it meets invention will be attained, I illustrate in Fig. the resistance of the fluid on the advancing 2. The piston a is arranged to travel back side, which accordingly tends to retard the and forth in the cylinder in the usual man advancing movement of the steam-piston. ner for steam-pistons, and it is fixed to the The plug if permits at first but a slight escape IOO pistol-rod O of the cylinder I, so that the of the fluid through the piston; but as the piston of the cataract-cylinder Tand of the cyl piston advances it passes onto the contract inder L are in positive connection. Through ing surface of the plug, consequently increas the piston a valve is arranged, consisting of ing the area of the passage through the pis two valves b d on opposite sides of the piston, ton and permitting a greater or more rapid lout connected through the piston, and so that escape of the fluid from the advancing side I o5 when one valve is upon its seat on one side of the piston through the piston to the re of the piston the valve upon the opposite treating side, and this increase of flow of the side will be opened, as represented, and vice fluid permits a more rapid movement of the Versa. At another point in the piston an piston through the cataract - cylinder, and IIo opening e is made through it parallel with consequently more rapid movement of the the axis of the piston, of any desirable size steam-piston, and this movement will increase within the cylinder, and from the respective until the maximum area of opening through heads plugs fg project parallel with the axis the piston is reached. From that point a uni of the cylinder and directly in line with the form velocity of piston will result, because opening e. The diameter of these plugs at of the necessarily uniform passage of fluid II 5 SO the respective heads and for a short distance through the piston, and this equal velocity therefrom is slightly smaller than the open will continue until the advancing piston inge through the piston, and so that the pis comes to the plug in the end of the cylinder ton as it approaches one end of the cylinder toward which it is moving. As it passes onto will pass onto one of said plugs, then as it re that plug the area of the opening is reduced, iI2O. turns will pass off from the said plug and and that reduction increases until the piston approaching the opposite end will pass onto reaches its extreme movement toward that the plug at that end. These plugs are pref end of the cylinder. The increasing resist- . erably cylindrical for a short distance from the ance produced by the reduction of the pas head, and thence are gradually reduced in di sage for the fluid through the piston cor I 25 ameter-say to substantially a point-as rep respondingly retards the movement of the resented in Fig. 2. It will be understood that piston in the cataract-cylinder, and conse. the cylinder is filled with water or other suit quently retards the movement of the piston able fluid of a like nature, and that the pis in the steam-cylinder. ton being at one end of the cylinder, with the The plugs are preferably made adjustable fluid upon the opposite side, as the piston with relation to the passage through the moves toward the other end of the cylinder piston. the fluid on the advancing side of the piston Tofacilitate the passage of the fluid through --

446,188 8 the piston oil reversing its movement, the rapid or accelerated movement of the steam piston may be made hollow, so as to form a piston during the first part of its stroke, but chamber c therein, as represented in Fig. 2, as the piston of the cataract-cylinder ap and so that the passage e through the piston proaches the other end of its cylinder its ve 7 o 5 opens into this chamber from both sides, and locity decreases, bringing the fulcrum of the the chamber extends to the valve, so that the lever G to a stationary position, and so that Valve on each side opens into the same cham the lever G may turn upon its fulcrum under ber. When the piston is at one extreme and is the movement of the steam-piston D, and so On the point of turning, the larger diameter of that the retarding of the cataract-piston will O the plug will substantially close the opening permit the steam-piston. D to operate the on the side nearest the head; but the dimin steam-valve F and more rapidly draw the ishing diameter of the plug leaves a space valve to its closed position to reduce the Sup around the plug in the opening on the other ply of steam to the piston, thereby diminish side of the piston, through which fluid may ing the velocity of the steam-piston during pass into the chamber c as the piston com the last part of its stroke, the velocity of mences its return movement, and the fluid movement of the steam-piston during the thus passing into the chamber c through the first part of the stroke being greater than the passage e will escape through the valve open average of the entire stroke, while the veloc ing onto the retreating side of the piston, so ity of the last part of the stroke will be less that after the valve shall have closed on the than the said average. From this it follows advancing side there will still be an open that there will be a corresponding increase in passage through the piston and through the the force of inertia gained during the first valve opening onto the retreating side, and part of the stroke, to be utilized during the the fluid will flow in this direction until the last part of the stroke over what can be passage through the piston at e has fully acquired under a uniform velocity of the passed from the plug on the retreating side. moving parts, or where the velocity of the Under this construction it will be apparent first part of the stroke is less than the aver that the piston of the cataract-cylinder will be age. The method which I have thus disclosed permitted to move more rapidly during the may be embodied in other forms of mechan 3O first part of the movement of the steam-pis ism, as will appear by the following. ton than the average velocity of the piston, In Fig. I I show a construction of the cata and that the velocity of the piston will be re ract-cylinder somewhat different from Fig. duced below the average during the last part 2. In this case the piston is constructed with of the stroke, and that the admission of steam the same opening e, and through this open O 3 to the cylinder A is consequently governed ing the two plugs are united to form a longi 5 throughout the whole stroke, the result of tudinal bar supported in the heads, of the re which is that a velocity is imparted to the spective ends of the cylinder but adapted for moving parts during the first part of the a certain amount of free longitudinal move stroke greater than the average of the entire ment. Under this arrangement one cylin stroke, and that the velocity of the parts is der-head is constructed with a chamber h, and reduced below the average during the last the other cylinder-head with a like chamber part of the stroke. - i, both in axial line with the openinge through In the arrangement of parts as illustrated the piston. The bar is of a length a little in Fig. 1 it will be observed that the steam greater than the length of the interior of the 45 valve lever G is hung upon a fulcrum which cylinder between the heads plus the depth of is movable in the direction of movement of one of the chambers, but so as to be sup the valve under the action of the cataract ported in the two chambers longitudinally piston, and that the opening movement of the through the piston. Midway of its length the steam-valve is in the same direction as the bar is reduced in diameter, as at , but gradu II5 movement of the piston in the steam-cylin ally increases toward each end to the maxi der, but that the connection between the mum diameter at the end portions lm, which steam-valve and its piston is such that were end portions correspond substantially in di the fulcrum on which the lever G turns sta a meter to the chambers i h. in the respective tionary the movement of the steam-valve ends of the cylinder. The piston moves freely 55 would be in the opposite direction to that of Over the bar as it travels from end to end of its piston. Hence the opening movement of the cylinder. As the piston commences its ad the valve is produced and controlled substan vance from one end of the cylinder, the press tially by the cataract-cylinder, and as the pis ure of the fluid is brought against the end of ton in the cataract-cylinder is governed in the bar in the chamber at the end of the cylin I 25 its movement so that on starting from one der toward which the piston advances and end of its cylinder its movement increases in causes the bar to instantly move longitudi velocity the opening movement of the steam nally through the piston to a bearing at the valve is correspondingly accelerated, and other end of the cylinder. This movement of Such accelerated opening of the steam-valve the bar, because of the reducing diameter of admits steam to the piston of the steam-cyl the bar, causes the area of the opening e inder, thereby producing a corresponding through the piston to be instantly increased, 446,188 and so as to permit the fluid to pass rapidly skilled in the art to which this invention per through the piston from the advancing to the tains to understand that this invention is not 'etreating side. Then during the last part of limited to any particular construction of the the stroke the piston passes onto the en cataract, the essential feature of the inven larged end of the bar on its advancing side, tion being the automatic government of the thereby reducing the area of the opening admission of steam throughout the Whole through the piston, and consequently retard stroke, and so as to impart to the moving ing the movement of the piston. The same parts a velocity in the first part of the stroke 1’ sult is accomplished in this case as in the greater than the average of the entire stroke, IO ('ataract-cylinder first mentioned. Under this and to reduce the velocity of the parts be 35 ri'angement the movement of the bar or at low that average during the last part of the liched plugs produces substantially the same stroke. result on the reversal of the piston that the I claim Valve performs in the first illustration. Again, The method of utilizing the force of in I 5 two cataract-cylinders may be used, as seen in ertia in a steam-engine, which consistS in all Fig. 4, one cataract-say a-filled with fluid tomatically imparting to the moving parts a and set to regulate the highest speed, and velocity during the first part of the stroke the other cataract r, say, only partially filled greater than the average of the entire stroke with fluid. Under this arrangement the sec and automatically reducing the velocity of Ond cataract will have no effect upon the the parts below that average during the last 45 stroke until its piston has moved so far that part of the stroke, substantially as described. the fluid in advance of it has filled the space. EBENEZER HILL. Then this second cataract r will act and regul Witnesses: late the slowest speed desired. These modi J OHN E. EARLE, 25 fications will be sufficient to enable those LILLIAN ID. KELSEY.