IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO VALVES AND TO THE METHOD OF ACTUATING AND GOVERNING THEM, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE VALVES OF MOTORS AND PUMPS KNOWN AS THE THREE-CYLINDER TYPE, AND ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER TYPES AND CLASSES OF ENGINES AND PUMPS.”
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wilden King, of Chester, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, and Alfred Cliff, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Con-
sulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING
TO VALVES AND TO THE METHOD OF ACTUATING AND GOVERNING THEM, SUCH
IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE VALVES OF MOTORS AND PUMPS
KNOWN AS THE THREE-CYLINDER TYPE, AND ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO
OTHER TYPES AND CLASSES OF ENGINES AND PUMPS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wilden King and
Alfred Cliff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May
1878.
CHARLES WILDEN KING, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Engineer, and
ALFRED CLIFF, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO VALVES AND TO THE METHOD OF ACTU-
ATING AND GOVERNING THEM, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE
VALVES OF MOTORS AND PUMPS KNOWN AS THE THREE-CYLINDER TYPE, AND ALSO
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER TYPES AND CLASSES OF ENGINES AND PUMPS."
Our Invention relates principally to the valves (and to the method of actuating
and governing such valves) of motors and pumps, and is especially applicable to the
type of motors or pumps known as the three-cylinder type, or where there are two
or more cylinders in position radially round the crank shaft.
Engines of this class as at present constructed have valves, mostly of the
revolving class, carried round by the rotation of the shaft. When such valves work
upon a flat or conical face with the steam pressure upon them, the outer edge moves
with a greater velocity than the inner edge, and consequently sustains the most
wear, thereby rendering the valve leaky.
Our Invention obviates this drawback, and consists of an eccentric revolving
with the crank shaft of the engine, and moving clear of the valve face. On this

page_text: eccentric we fit a ring wide enough to serve the purpose of a valve and thicker
than the eccentric.
The eccentric is placed in the usual position for giving the required cut off of the
steam (or other motor), and as it moves round, the outside edge of the ring being
the valve, admits and cuts off the steam, while the inside edge of the ring, being
the valve, governs the exhaust; one side of the valve works upon the steam port
face and the other upon the valve facing cover. The steam ports are so shaped
that when the steam is cut off the edge of the port coincides with the outer edge
or circumference of the valve.
The valve, according to our Invention, being free to move round the eccentric,
which also gives it a reciprocating motion, the wear cannot take place unequally,
for should any part tend to have more friction than another, the valve will turn
round, bringing fresh surfaces to bear.
We make the valvo as before described (in which case it is perfectly balanced),
or we make it in the form of a circular flat dish, the steam pressing on the back
and the eccentric, working on the inside, which also forms the exhaust space for
the steam.
In order to reverse the engine or expand the steam we apply to the ring valve,
as described, an inclined wedge, which being moved longitudinally along the shaft
in a fixed relative position to the crank alters the position of the eccentric with
regard to the crank and also its stroke, on the same principle as the valve gear,
known as Dodd's wedge motion, formerly used for locomotives. We can also reverse
the action of the valve by the use of a spiral and sliding sleeve arrangement on
the shaft instead of the wedge motion. We can also expand the steam when
reversing gear is not required by a cut-off plate at the back of the main valve,
which in this case requires to be made with an extra ring sufficiently larger than
it to allow the steam to enter the annular space between the two rings, which are
joined together by three ribs dividing this space into three parts. The cut-off plate
is made flat and circular, with ports cut in it exactly similar in shape to those in the
cylinder face, but by turning the plate round by hand, or by connection with the
governor in the reverse direction to that in which the engine is moving, the steam
will be cut off sooner. The plate only requires to be turned round the small
fraction of a revolution.
Our Invention is equally applicable to hydraulic motors and pumps.
In all our arrangements the cut-off and expansion gear can be worked by hand
or by connection with the governor.
To govern a valve, constructed according to our Invention, we use a vertical or
horizontal shaft rotated by the engine (in many cases using the crank shaft itself).
On this shaft is a cross arm on which we place a ball or weight on each side of the
centre, and pressed to the centre by the action of spiral springs which are enclosed
in the weights. The centrifugal tendency opposes the action of the springs, and
when it exceeds their force the weights fly out along the radial arms and control
the engine by connecting links fixed in any convenient manner.
It will be evident that this governor may be adapted to other class of valves than
those described as the particular subject of this Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Wilden King and Alfred Cliff in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th November 1878.
CHARLES WILDEN KING, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Engineer, and
ALFRED CLIFF, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO VALVES AND TO THE METHOD OF ACTU-
ATING AND GOVERNING THEM, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE
VALVES OF MOTORS AND PUMPS KNOWN AS THE THREE-CYLINDER TYPE, AND ALSO
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER TYPES AND CLASSES OF ENGINES AND PUMPS."
Our Invention relates principally to the valves (and to the method of actuating
and governing such valvos) of motors and pumps, and is especially applicable to the
type of motors or pumps known as the three-cylinder type, or where there are two
or more cylinders in position radially round the crank shaft.
Engines of this class, as at present constructed, have valves mostly of the revolving
class, carried round by the rotation of the shaft. When such valves work upon a
flat or conical face, with steam pressure upon them, the outer edge moves with a
greater velocity than the inner edge, and consequently sustains the most wear,
thereby rendering the valve leaky.
Our Invention obviates this drawback, and consists of an eccentric revolving
with the crank shaft of the engine, and moving clear of the valvo face.
On this
occontric we fit a ring wide enough to serve the purpose of a valve, and thicker
than the eccentric.
The eccentric is placed in the usual position for giving the required
cut off of the steam (or other motor) and as it moves round the outside edge
of the ring (being the valve) admits and cuts off the steam, while the inside
edge of the ring (being the) valve governs the exhaust. One side of the valve works
The steam
upon the steam port face, and the other upon the valve casing cover.
ports are so shaped that when the steam is cut off the edge of the port coincides
with the outer edge or circumference of the valve.
The valve, according to our Invention, being free to move round the eccentric,
which also gives it a reciprocating motion, the wear cannot take place unequally, for
should any part tend to have more friction than another the valve will turn round
bringing fresh surfaces to bear.
We make the valve, as before described (in which case it is perfectly balanced),
or we make it in the form of a circular flat dish, the steam pressing on the back,
and the eccentric working on the inside, which also forms the exhaust space for the
steam.
In order to reverse the engine or expand the steam we apply to the ring valve, as
described, an inclined wedge, which being moved longitudinally along the shaft in
a fixed relative position to the crank alters the position of the eccentric with regard
to the crank, and also its stroke, on the same principle as the valve gear known as
We can also reverse the
Dodd's wedge motion, formerly used for locomotives.
action of the valve by the use of a spiral and sliding sleeve (arrangement on the
shaft instead of the wedge motion. We can also expand the steam by a cut-off
plate at the back of the main valve, which in this case requires to be made with an
extra ring sufficiently larger than it to allow the steam to enter the annular spaces
between the two rings, which are joined together by three ribs, dividing this space
into three parts. The cut-off plate is made flat and circular, with ports cut in it,
exactly similar in shape to those in the cylinder face, but by turning the plate
round by hand, or by connection with the governor in the reverso direction to that
in which the engine is moving, the steam will be cut off the sooner. The plate only
requires to be turned round a small fraction of a revolution.
Our Invention is equally applicable to hydraulic motors and pumps.
In all our arrangements the cut-off and expansion gear can be worked by hand,
or by connection with the governor.

page_text: To govern a valve constructed according to our invention we use a
horizontal shaft, rotated by the engine (in many cases using the crank shaft itself).
On this shaft is a cross arm, on which we place a ball or weight on each side of
the centre, and pressed to the centre by the action of spiral springs, which are
enclosed in the weights. The centrifugal tendency opposes the action of the springs
and when it exceeds their force the weights fly out along the radial arms and
control the engine by connecting links fixed in any convenient manner.
It will he evident that this governor may be adapted to other class of valves
than those described as the particular subject of this Invention.
The before-going being the nature of our Invention we will now proceed to
describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into practical effect, and
for that purpose we have hereunto attached five Sheets of Drawings, marked with
letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation.
Like letters and figures are used to denote the same or corresponding parts
throughout the various viows.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of a three-cylinder engine constructed
according to our Invention.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, illustrates a valve constructed according to our Invention.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, illustrates a cylinder valve face, according to our Invention.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a modification of Figure 1, shown without reversing gear.
Figuro 6, Sheet 2, is a side view of Figure 5.
Figure 7, Sheet 3, is a sectional elevation of a three-cylinder hydraulic engine,
fitted with reversing gear.
Figure 8, Sheet 3, is a side view of Figure 7.
Figure 9, Sheet 4, is a sectional elevation, showing arrangement of variable expan-
sion gear
and governor, according to our Invention.
Figure 10, Sheet 4, is a plan of arrangement of valve, according to our Inven-
tion, when expansion gear is applied.
Figure 11, Sheet 4, is a plan illustrating a valve, according to our Invention,
with expansion valve in position.
Figure 12, Sheet 5, is a sectional elevation of a valve constructed according to
our Invention, arranged for working steam expansively from one cylinder to another
of three-cylinder engines.
Figure 13, Sheet 5, is a plan of Figure 12 viewed from the undor side.
Figure 14, Sheet 5, is a plan illustrating arrangement of ports on cylinder valve
face, when the steam is worked expansively from one cylinder to the others of three-
cylinder engines.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that A, A, A, are the cylinders of a
three-cylinder engine, shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, as adapted for steam, and in
Figures 7 and 8, as adapted for hydraulics. Bare the pistons; C, connecting rods;
D, crank; E, shaft; F, supply ports; G, exhaust port of the engines shown.
The principle of our Invention will be particularly seen upon reference to Figures
3, 4, 10, and 11.
The valve used is of circular construction, and the gear for moving it consists of an
eccentric H revolving with the crank shaft E of the engine, and moving clear of
the cylinder valve face f.
The eccentric H is fitted with a ring K, which is wide enough to serve the pur-
pose of a valve, and thicker than the eccentric, as shown in Figures 1, 5, 7, and 9.
The eccentric H is keyed or placed on the shaft E, in the usual position for giving
the requisite cut off.
The valve face is formed with ports, as shown at Figure 4, F being the steam or
supply ports, and G the exhaust port. As the eccentric H moves round, the outside
edge of the ring K admits and cuts off the steam or other fluid through the ports F
and as it moves round the inside edge of the ring K governs the exhaust

page_text: through the port G, one side of the ring K working upon the valve face f, and
the other side of the ring K working upon the valve casing cover. The steam
ports Fare shaped, as shown at Figure 4, so that when the steam is cut off, the
edge of the port coincides with the outer edge or circumference of the valve K.
It will be seen that the ring K, which constitutes the valve according to our
Invention, is free to move round the eccentric H, which also imparts to the ring K
a reciprocating motion; thus the valve K and the valve faco f cannot wear
unequally, for should any part tend to have more friction than another, the valve K
will move round, bringing fresh surfaces to bear.
In order to reverse the engines, or alter the valve K, we apply to the eccentric H
an inclined wedge piece L, see Figure 1, which is arranged so that it may be moved
longitudinally along the shaft E by the gear M, and itself having a fixed relative
position to the crank and thus alter the position of the eccentric H with
regard to the crank D, also its stroke on the same principle as Dodd's wedge
motion.
The arrangement of a valve, according to our Invention, when expansion gear is
applied, is illustrated at Figures 9, 10, and 11.
It will be seen that the ring K is formed in two parts K, K¹, with an annular
port N, the parts K, K', being joined together by the ribs K"; P is a cut-off plate
of flat and circular form, and having ports R which correspond with the ports F on
the cylinder valve face. By turning the plate P round by hand, or by connection
with the governor S in the reverse direction to that in which the engine is
running, the cut-off will be effected. The plate P only requires to be turned round
a small fraction of a revolution.
The arrangement of a valve, constructed according to our Invention, when used
to work steam expansively from one cylinder to another of three-cylinder engines,
is illustrated at Figures 12, 13, and 14.
Upon reference it will be seen that the ring being the valve K, is formed with
two concentric grooves J, J, on the under side or face of the valve. The ports of
the cylinders are arranged concentrically, as shown at Figure 14; for example, Fi
being the port of the first cylinder to which steam is admitted, F" being the port
of the second cylinder into which the steam, after use in the first cylinder, passes,
and is used expansively, and F1 being the port of the third cylinder, into which
the same, after use in the second cylinder, passes, and is further expanded, and
after use in which the steam exhausts through the port G. The requisite exhaust
passages are obtained by the grooves J moving eccentrically on the ports F, F",
F1, and G, Figure 14.
It will be evident that the sizes and areas of the three cylinders must differ and
be arranged to suit the expansion required.
It will also be evident that with slight modification of parts, the steam may be
led in the reverse direction, being first used through the port F¹ and expanding
outwards to the port F'.
A governor suitable for our Invention is illustrated at Figure 9. On the shaft E
is a cross bar T, which carries the weights S, which are pressed to the centre by the
spiral springs U. The centrifugal tendency to fly out of the weights S, opposed by
the action of the spiral springs U, constitutes the governing action, and the engine
is controlled by connecting links from the weights S to the sliding sleeve V,
which operates the cut-off plate P by means of the bell-crank lever W, one end of
which moves in a diagonal slot in the arm X, which is connected to the plate P.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or inay
be used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the arrangement and
construction of valves, and the method of actuating and governing them for
engines and pumps of the three-cylinder, or radially-arranged cylinder type, as

page_text: bercin-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying five Sheets of Drawings,
or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Wilden King and Alfred Cliff, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHADIES RUTT DEN KING Gol