A Compound Steam Engine.
Year: 1897

page_text: ...Date of Application, 29th June,p1897 -Accepted, 25th Sept.; 1897
*A Compound Steam Engine.
We. CLIFTON REEVES; fof No: 245 Walnut Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey, USA.
Machinist, and CHARLES MELVIN HBATH,Jof No. 31 Perry Street, Trenton, New Jersey,
U.S.A Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what
mannen the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
5 and by the following statement:-
17
Our object is to produce a.compound locomotive engine provided with a valve so
balanced, and provided with such appliances, as will result in an economy of steam,
and, consequently of fuel. We effect this economy by providing an apparatus by
which the steam, after expansion in a high pressure cylinder, is transferred to a low
Opressure cylinder, made, preferably; three and a half times larger than the high
pressure cylinder, in which low pressure cylinder the steam again performs an amount
of work equal to the work performed, by it in the high pressure cylinder, thereby
securing twice the work performed by an equal amount of steam,under similar
conditions, in a single acting engine.
31
5 In our apparatus, the steam is admitted into the high pressure cylinder and from
thence, into the low pressure. cylinder, and exhausted, therefrom. This admission is
by means of a flat slide valve, which we have devised as an improvement over the
round yalve. This valve we arrange so that while it is a slide, valve, it is completely
balanced, the pressure underneath it equalling the pressure on the exposed upper
0 surface, thereby securing absence of friction from, pressure, and avoiding loss of power
therefrom. We also provide easy and simple means of converting the engine into a
single acting engine at pleasure, securing a continuance of the action of the engine,
should accident occur to the mechanism of the dow pressure cylinder. We also pro-
vide means by which a vacuum in the valve, and in the low pressure cylinder is
prevented. We furthermore by the arrangement of the pranks connected with, the
...engine neutralize any twisting effect on the axles of the heel, and thereby by
our arrangement of opposite cranks and connecting rods we the hammer, blow
on the track caused in other engines by the presence of counter balances in the driving
wheels. We effect these objects by the mechanism hereinafter, more fully described
0. and shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,
"Y
Figure 1, is a side view in section of a portion of a locomotive engine, showing in
section the attachment of our mechanism thereto.
Figure 2, is an end view, in half, showing in section the position of the cylinder and
steam chest and boiler.
Figure 3, is a view in section of the valve, steam, chest, valve, seat and ports.
Figure 4-isa view, in section of the relief valve.
Figure 5, is a top view of another part of the same, and Figure 6 is also a top view
of the same showing shape of the guides.
1)
Figure 7, is a bottom view of another part of the same.
Figure 8, is a view in cross section of the balance valve, and steam chest with
starting valve in place.
Figure 9, is a bottom view of the balance slide valve.

page_text: Figure 11, is a side view thereof.
Figure 12, is a side view of valve with view in section of starting valve.
Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16, show the starting valve.
Figure 13, shows the valve; Figure 14, shows the end view of the starting valve;
Figure 15, side view of gate valve, and Figure 16, shows an end view of gate valve.
Figure 17, is a front view of the driving wheel with axle, cranks and attachments.
Figure 18, is a view in section of a part of the starting valve, slide valve, yoke and
steam chest, showing attachment to the chest and location of starting valve.
A more particular description of this mechanism is as follows:
In Figure 1, A is the balanced slide valve, B is the high pressure cylinder, B' is
the low pressure cylinder, CC are the high pressure ports, DD are the low ports,
E is the exhaust port, FF are faces of valve covering ports CC, G is the valve
stem, H is the face covering exhaust port E, B is piston head, B is piston rod, B* is
forward cylinder head of high pressure cylinder and B5 is rear cylinder head of
same, B is forward cylinder head of low pressure cylinder and, B' rear cylinder head
of same, I is connecting rod to axle; back of this and hidden by it is another
connecting rod to axle; W is the driving wheel, Z the rock shaft arm, P axle
and F a portion of the frame of the engine and S5 is the saddle of the cylinder.
The valves, valve seats, ports and attachments appear more clearly in Figure 3 in
the description of which they will be more minutely enumerated.
In Figure 2, B is the high pressure cylinder, B₁ the low pressure cylinder, S' the
cylinder saddle, Se the boiler, S lid of steam chest, frame, 00 sides of steain
chest.
;
In Figure 3, AA represents the slide valve, CC high pressure ports, D D low
pressure ports, E exhaust port, FF faces of valve covering ports CC, Foutside lap
of valve, Fs inside lap of valve, H face of valve covering exhaust port E, A¹ yoke of
valve, G valve stem, L1 chamber's 'over low pressure ports, MM openings leading to
relief valve, N N packing ring bearing against face T T of steam chest cover,
Na cavity under packing ring, O O sides of steam chest, P opening for reliëf valve,
S lid of steam chest, K screw to raise the gate valve K, Y plate covering the
gate valve K, D5 D6 screws to fasten said plate, X. X¹ ports connecting
cavities X X', to equalize the pressure at both ends of the valve, J J ports leading
from the throttle, V opening leading to cavity above the valve, V4 port,
connecting chainbers LL, M is opening leading to relief valve, P and V are openings
for relief valves.
.I.'
In Figure 4, A A is a view in section of a part of upper portion of the slide valve,
showing the relief valve P¹, placed therein M are guides to the valve bearing against
side of opening M. R¹ are springs placed underneath. C is a disc against which the
spring bears, U is a cap perforated to admit air.
Figure 5 is a bottom view of valve Pl showing disc C'. Figure 6 shows top view
of valve P and guides M.
Figure 7 is a 'bottom view of disc U with perforations D³.
1
In Figure 8, S is the lid of the steam chest, A the slide valve, A2 face of valve
seat, 00 sides of steam chest, X' X1 X1 are ports leading from cavity X to X5, in
Figure 3, N is the packing ring bearing against face lid, N is the cavity underneath
the packing ring.
:
In this cavity we place coil springs which serve to keep the packing ring against
the face of steam chest lid, as these springs are not new in such connection I
have not figured them. A¹ is the yoke of the valve upon which rests the starting
valve, and which is held in place by the lugs 01 01 as shown in Figure 18, which we
preferably cast in one with the side of the steam' chest.
In Figure 9, L L represents a bottom view of the top of the chambers L L, in
Figure 3 and U shows the bottom of the disc U of the relief valve. There is one
such valve to each 'chamber.
In Figure 10, which is a top view of the slide valve, A A represents the portion of
the valve exposed to steam pressure; N is the packing ring and No is a steam tight
joint in the ring.

page_text: YY is a plate to strengthen the valve, K is the head of the screw for raising gate
valve and M M are the openings to the relief valve R shown in Figure 4.
'
In Figure 11, A shows the slite valve. Openings As in the side lead to the
chambers L L.
In Figure 12, A A is another view of the side, of. sliding valve showing attached
thereto the starting valve A5. The details of this starting valve are shown more
particularly in the following figures:
In Figure 13, A' is the starting valve with ports A" and guides A7..
Figure 14 is an ond view of the starting valve, A5 is the sent of the starting
valve.
•
In Figure 15, C is a rod for moving the starting valve and C² are lugs through
which the rod passes attached to the starting valve.
Figure 16 shows the end of this rod and the lugs C².
In Figure 17, R³ is the outside crank, Q is the crank pin, R' is the pedestal brace,
R inside crank, R' inside crank pin and E¹ E' are eccentrics.
Figure 18 is a view showing the location of and method of holding the starting
valve in place within the steam chest and against the side of the slide valve. The
starting valve rests upon the yoke A¹ and is kept from moving backward or forward
by the lugs 01 01 attached to the wall'O of the steam chest. It also shows the relative
position of the parts of the starting valve and of the connecting parts A³ of the
slide valve. When the slide valve is not centered and the ports of the starting valve
are open, there is connection between the interior of the steain chest and either the
front or rear chamber of the sliding valve by means of these ports according as the
slide valve is in an advanced or retracted position. When the slide valve is centered
there is no connection.
The operation of our invention is as follows:
Steam being admitted from the boiler by the ports J J it enters the cavities X5 X'
and by means of the ports X1 X1 Figure 3 and X X Figure 8, the pressure in each
of cavities X is equalized, and the slide valve A is free to move backward and
forward.
The slide valve inoves forward and backward as in other engines. A forward
movement will uncover rear port C and admit steam from rear cavity X' into rear
port C and by that port into the rear end of high pressure cylinder B. This move-
ment also uncovers forward port C, and releases the steam already used in the high
pressure cylinder which thereby escapes into forward chamber L. The gate valve K¹
being closed, the steam thus released flows from the forward cavity L through
forward port D to the low pressure cylinder B¹. By the same movement face H is.
carried forward and uncovers or opens, to rear chamber L the exhaust port K, per-,
mitting the steam which has entered rear chamber L from the low pressure cylinder,
by means of port Dito escape to the outer air.
The forward movement of the valve having been completed, the backward
movement as it progresses, uncovers forward port C and permits the steam from
forward cavity X to enter the forward end of the high pressure cylinder.
The same movement also closes port E to rear port D and also uncovers rear port C
and the exhaust steam from the rear end of the high pressure cylinder, by means of
the rear port C and chamber L and rear port D, enters the rear end of the low
pressure cylinder. It also uncovers or opens to forward chamber L the exhaust.
port E, permitting the steam from the forward end of low pressure cylinder to escape.
by forward port and forward chamber L to exhaust port E.
:
We thus operate the two cylinders by one slide valve common to both. The outside
lap of this valve is greater than the inside lap, thereby permitting a cut-off earlier in
the high than in the low pressure cylinder, thus economizing steam.
In case it be desired for any reason, such as accident, or the like, to not use the
low pressure cylinder, the gate valve K¹ can be raised by means of screw K and the
steam in the ports D being then free to pass through the gate valve an equilibrium
is established, and the engine is run simply as a high pressure engine.
Our relief valves as shown are placed, two of them in the body of the upper main
וי

page_text: portion of the slide valve. They thus afford relief when a vacuum occurs in the
chambers L or either of them. If this vacuum occurs the valve R is depressed by
the outside pressure of the air and air flows, through into the vacuum through the
openings M.
We have not figured the relief valves at openings V and P as they are to be found
in use so placed in other engines.
As will be seen the chambers L Labout equal in area the exposed portion of the
top of our slide valve, and the pressure of the exhaust steam from the high pressure
cylinders upward against the upper ports of these chambers equals the pressure
downward in the steam chest upon the exposed parts of the top, thus affording a slide
valve balanced.
The advantage of our construction, among others are: We have a slide valve,
avoiding pressure, and consequently.friction.
I
We operate two cylinders by one valve, the ports always reináining in relative
adjustment, dispensing with an extra valve with its separate adjustments, and
permitting a diminution of weight, material machinery, costs of production, friction,
wear, and other causes of expenditure.
We also produce an engine which can at pleasure, with but a few moments loss of
time, and with no destruction of the ports, he converted from compound to single and
vice versa.
By placing relief valves in the body of the slide valve we avoid a vacuum underneath
the valve and in the low pressure cylinder, avoiding the drawing in of cinder through.
the exhaust which would cut the faces of the valve, and the cylinder and permits a
free steady run to the engine upon the closing of the throttle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
1. A steam engine comprising a steam chest having ports, high and low pressure
cylinders provided with pistons, a balance slide valve in said steam chest having a
gate therein and ports and adapted to control the admission of steam to the rear end
of the high pressure cylinder, simultaneously with the admission of steam to forward
end of the low pressure cylinder, the exhaust of steam from the high pressure
cylinder to the end of the low pressure cylinder adjacent. thereto, the exhaust of used
steam from said low pressure cylinder, and conversely when the gate is closed, and
when open to control the admission of steam to the rear end of the high pressure
cylinder and the exhaust of steam therefrom and conversely, substantially as
described.
.
:
2. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports high and low pressure
cylinders, provided with pistons, and a balance slide valve in said steam chest
provided with a gate therein, and ports, and valve faces, said valve facos adapted to
control the admission and exliaust of steam to and from the high and low pressure
cylinders, and the slide valve, and the exhaust of: used steam therefrom when suid
gate is closed, and when open, to permit the escape of the steam direct from the high
pressure cylinders into the slide valve and the exhaust of the used steam therefroin,.
substantially as shown and described.
3. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports; high and low
pressure cylinders provided with pistons, and a balanco slide valve in snid steam.
chest provided with chambers having ports leading therefrom, a port connecting said
chambers, a gate therein adapted to open and close this port, and valve faces, said
valve faces adapted to control the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the
high and low pressure cylinders and the slide.valve when said gate is closed, and when
open to permit the escape of the steam direct from the high pressure cylinder into
the slide valve, and the exhaust of used steam therefrom, substantially as shown and
described:
"

page_text: 4. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports, high and low pressure
cylinders, provided with pistons, and a balance si le valve located in said steam chest
having chambers provided with ports opening therefrom, a port connecting said
chambers, audia gate adapted to open and close said port, substantially as shown and
described.
5. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with a valve seat, and high and
low pressure cylinders provided with pistons, said valve seat having one set of ports
leading to and from the high pressure cylinder, and another set of ports leading
to and from the low pressure cylinder, and also having an exhaust port, in
combination with a slide valve having a gate therein and provided with valve faces
arranged relatively to said ports so that when the front port leading to the high
pressure cylinder is open to the steam chest, the rear port of the same cylinder will
be uncovered to connect with the rear port of the low pressure cylinder, and the
forward port of the low pressure cylinder will be open to connect with the exhaust
port substantially as shown and described.
6. A steam engine chest provided with a valve seat having one set of ports leading
to and from a high pressure cylinder, and another set of ports leading to and from a
low cylinder, and also having an exhaust port in combination with a slide valve
having chambers connected by a port provided with a gate capable of being raised or
lowered and thereby opening or closing said port, such slide valve provided with
valve faces arranged relatively to said ports so that when the front port leading to the
high pressure cylinder is open to the steam chest the rear port of the same cylinder.
will be uncovered to connect by means of the rear of said chambers with the rear port
of the low pressure cylluder and the forward port of the low pressure cylinder will
be open to connect by means of the forward one of said chambers with the exhaust
port, substantially as shown and described.
..7. In a steam engine a steam chest provided with one set of ports leading to and
from a high pressure cylinder, and another set of ports leading to and from a low
pressure cylinder, and also provided with an exhaust port, in combination with a
slide valve having chambers connected by a port having a gate adapted to close or
open the same, such slide valve provided with valve faces-arranged relatively to said
ports so that when the front port leading to the high pressure-cylinder is open to
the steam chest the rear port of the same cylinder will be open to connect by
means of the rear chamber with the rear port of the low pressure cylinder and the
forward port of the low pressure cylinder will be open to connect by means of the
forward chamber with the exliaust port, and when the port between said chambers
is open by means of the raising of said gate the rear port of the high pressure
cylinder will be open to connect by means of said chambers with 'the exhaust port,
substantially as shown and described.
8.. In a steam engine, a steam chest provided with a valve sent having one set of
ports lending to and from a high pressure cylinder, and another set of ports leading
to and from a low pressure cylinder, and also having an exhaust port in combination
with the slide valve having chambers connected by a port a gate therein adapted'
to open and close said port, such slide valve having faces arranged relatively to said
ports so that when the port leading to the high pressure cylinder is open to the
stenin chest and the exhaust port, the rear port of the same cylinder will be uncovered
to connect by means of the rear chamber the port connecting said chainber and the
front chamber to the exhaust port, substantially as shown and described:
:
:
9. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports, high and low
pressure cylinders provided: with pistons connected respectively by suitable means
to opposite cranks of one common axle, a balance slide valve in said steam chest
provided with chambers having ports leading to and from said cylinders, a port
connecting said chambers, a gate adapted to open and close said port, and valve
faces adapted to control the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the
high and low pressure cylinders and the slide valve when said gate is closed, and
when open to permit the escape of the steam direct from the high pressure cylinders

page_text: into the slide valve and the exhaust of used steam therefrom, substantially as shown
and described.
10. A steam engine having high and low pressure cylinders provided respectively
with pistons connected, each, by suitable means, to opposite cranks of one common
axle, such engine provided with a steam chest having a valve seat with one set of
ports leading to and from the high pressure cylinder, and another set of ports leading
to and from the low pressure cylinder, and also having an exhaust port, in
combination with a slide valve having chambers connected by a port capable of
being opened or closed by a gate and provided with such gate and means for
opening and closing the saune, and having faces arranged relatively to the ports
leading to and from the cylinders so that when the port connecting the chambers
is open, the steam is free to exhaust from the high pressure cylinder by means of
the chambers to the exhaust port and when the port connecting the chambers is
closed the steam from the high pressure cylinder is forced to enter the port leading
to the low pressure cylinder, all arranged substantially as shown and described.
11. Ina steain engine a steam chest having ports and provided with a starting
valve and a slide valve also provided with ports, said slide valve having interior
chambers, connected by a port capable of being opened or closed by a gate the
ports As of the slide valve arranged relatively to the ports of the starting valve,
whereby when the slide valve is off of center and the starting valve is open,
communication is established by means of the ports A³ of the slide valve and the
ports of the starting valve between the interior of the steam chest and the forward
interior chamber of the slide valve when such slide valve is advanced, and between
the interior of the steam chest and the rear chamber of the slide valve, when such
slide valve is retracted, substantially as shown and described.
12 In a steam engine a steam chest having ports provided with a starting valve
also having ports, and held in place by lugs attached to the interior wall of the steam
chest, and a slide valve having interior chambers connected by a port capable of being
opened or closed by a gate, and also provided with ports A arranged relatively to
the ports of the starting valve, whereby when the slide valve is off of center and the
starting valve is open, communication is established by means of the ports A³. of the
slide valve and the ports of the starting valve between the interior of the steam chest
and the forward interior chamber of the slide valve when such slide valve is advanced,
and between the interior of the steam chest and the rear chamber of the slide
valve when such slide valve is retracted, substantially as shown and described.
13. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports, high and low
-pressure cylinders provided with pistons connected respectively by suitable means to
opposite cranks of one common axle, a balance slide valve in said steam chest
provided with chambers having ports leading to and from said cylinders, a port
connecting said chambers, a gate adapted to open and close said port, and valve faces
adapted to control the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the high and
low pressure cylinders into the slide valve when said gate is closed, and when open to
permit the escape of the steam direct from the high pressure cylinder into the slide
valve and the exhaust of used steam therefrom, in combination with a starting valve
having ports arranged relatively to the ports A³ of the slide valve, so that when the
slide valve is off of center, and the starting valve is open, communication is established,
by means of the ports of the starting valve and the said ports of the slide valve,
between the interior of the steam chest and the forward chamber of the slide
valve, when such slide valve is advanced, and between the interior of the steam
chest and the rear chamber of the slide valve when the slide valve is retracted,
substantially as shown and described.
14. A steam engine having a steam chest provided with ports, high and low
pressure cylinders provided with pistons connected respectively, by suitable means, to
opposed cranks of one common axle, a balance slide valve in said steam cheat pro-
vided with chambers having ports leading to and from said cylinders, a port connecting
said chambers, a gate adapted to open and close said port, and valve faces adapted to
control the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the high and low pressure

page_text: cylinders aud the slide valve when said gate is closed, and when open to permit the
escape of the steam direct from the high pressure cylinder into the slide valve and
the exhaust of used steam therefrom, in combination with a starting valve held in
place by the lugs attached to the interior wall of the steam chest such starting valve
ports arranged relatively to the ports A8 of the slide valve, so that when the slide
valve is off of center, and the starting valve is open communication is established by
means of the ports of the starting valve and the said ports of the slide valve between
the interior of the steam chest and the forward chamber of the slide valve when Buch
slide valve is advanced, and between the interior of the steam chest and the rear
chamber of the slide valve when the slide valve is retracted:
15. An engine consisting of high and low pressure cylinders, a steam chest having
ports connecting the said cylinders and a slide valve in said steam chest provided with
a chainber having a gate located therein moving therewith, adapted to be held in an
open or closed position, substantially as described:
16. An engine, consisting of high and low pressure cylinders, a steam chest having
ports connecting the said cylinders, a slide valve in said steam chest provided with a
chamber having a gate located therein, moving therewith, adapted to be held in an
open or closed position, and a starting valve, said valve adapted to co-operate to start
the engine, substantially as described.
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