Improvements in the Slide-valves of Steam-engines and other Motive-power-engines and Apparatus Actuated by the Pressure of Fluids.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 24th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887.
RESERVE
Improvements in the Slide-valves of Steam-engines and other
Motive-power-engines and Apparatus Actuated by the Pressure
of Fluids.
I JAMES GASKELL of 77 Rowland Street Beswick near Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE SLIDE-VALVES OF STEAM-ENGINES AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND
APPARATUS ACTUATED BY THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the slide-valves employed in steam-engines or other motive-
power-engines or apparatus actuated by the pressure of fluids and consists in
arrangements by the employment of which I am enabled to prevent such slide-valves
from being unduly pressed against the. surfaces upon which such valves slide when
they are at work by the pressure of the steam or other fluid.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect I provide the back of each slide-
valve with a plate one surface of which plate is in contact with a suitable surface
formed upon the cover of the valve-box or any other suitable part. Through or in the
said surface formed upon the cover of the valve-box or other suitable part above
mentioned I form an opening or openings which opening or openings is or are in
communication with the atmosphere. I make the opening or openings formed through
or in the surface formed upon the cover of the valve-box or other suitable part above
mentioned, of such size that the pressure tending to press the said surface of the
aforesaid plate against the surface formed upon the cover of the valve-box or other
part above mentioned shall be equal or nearly equal to the pressure which tends to
press the slide-valve against the surface in contact with which it slides when at work-
I connect and secure the plate above mentioned to the slide-valvo to which it is applied
by means of a screw or screws or other suitable means so that the said plate is capable
of being adjusted at any time for any purpose relatively to the slide-valve to which it
is applied and relatively to the surface formed upon the cover of the valve box or other
suitable part with which surface the above mentioned surface of the plate aforesaid is
in contact-In some cases I place a spring or springs of any suitable form between
the plate before referred to and the slide-valve to which it is applied, which spring or

page_text: springs keep the said plate in contact with or nearly in contact with the surface formed
upon the cover of the valve-box or other part with which surface the said plate is in
contact and to the valve I secure a stud or studs which passes or pass through the plate
above mentioned and is or are provided with a nut or nuts by which the extent to
which the spring or springs above mentioned are allowed to act upon the plate
aforesaid is regulated or controlled. In some cases to enable the plate above mentioned
to be adjusted relatively to the slide valve to which it is applied and relatively to the
surface formed upon the cover of the valve box or other suitable part with which
surface the above-mentioned surface of the plate aforesaid is in contact-I employ
an incline or wedge or inclines or wedges operated by a screw or screws and to
secure the said plate in position upon the slide-valve after such plate has been
adjusted by means of the above mentioned incline or wedge or inclines or wedges
I employ a nut or nuts and a stud or studs secured to the slide-valve or for such
purpose we employ any other suitable means.
In applying my invention to those slide-valves which are provided with an
additional valve sliding upon the back of the principal valve I secure a plate similar
to the plate above described to the back of the additional valve above mentioned so
that such plate shall be in contact with the surface formed upon the cover of the
valve box or other suitable part, through which cover or part 1 form an opening or
openings communicating with the atmosphere or with the port or passage or passages
through which the exhaust steam passes.
In applying my invention to steam engines or other motive-power-engines or
apparatus actuated by the pressure of fluids in which as in certain locomotive steam-
engines two slide-valves are placed back to back in one valve box I provide each
of such slide-valves with a plate as above described which is in contact with a box
or plate placed between the slide-valves and secured to the valve-box in any suitable
manner in which box or plate I form an opening or cavity or openings or cavities
which opening or cavity or openings or cavities are in communication with the
atmosphere directly or by means of the passage or passages through which the
exhaust steam escapes from one or both of the cylinders."
In order to prevent steam or other fluid from escaping through the holes through
which any of the screws or studs employed in carrying my invention into effect
pass I provide any or each of such holes and screws or studs with any suitable packing
which will prevent the escape of steam or other fluid.
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Carlton Chambers, 18, St. Ann's Street, Manchester,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Slide Valves of Steam-engines and other
Motive-power-engines and Apparatus Actuated by the Pressure
of Fluids.
I, JAMES GASKELL of 77, Rowland Street Beswick near Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to the slide-valves employed in steam-engines or other motive-
power engines or apparatus actuated by the pressure of fluids and consists in
arrangements by the employment of which I am enabled to prevent such slide-valves
from being unduly pressed against the surfaces upon which such valves slide when
they are at work, by the pressure of the steam or other fluid.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood and carried into effect
I hereunto annex drawings.
One method of carrying my invention into effect is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawings hereunto annexed, Fig. 1 being an elevation partly in section the
section being taken on the dotted line A B of Fig. 3 Fig. 2. a vertical cross section
taken on the line C. D of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a plan.
In Figs. 1 and 2 a. is the face upon which the slide-valve is slidden when at
work c is the side of the valve box E. Secured in the usual manner to the side c
of the valve box E is the valve-box cover d. I provide the slide-valve b with a plate e
one surface e¹ of which plate e is formed flat and is in contact with a suitable
surface d' formed upon the cover of the valve box E. Through or in the cover d of
the valve box E I form openings F which openings F are in communication with the
external air. Between the openings F is a bridge-piece which prevents the cover d
from being materially weakened by the apertures or openings F being formed through
the said cover d. ffare studs which by means of screw-threads formed thereon are
each firmly secured by one end to the side-valve b. The remaining end of each of the
studs ffpasses through a hole formed in the plate e. The studs have each screw-
threads formed thereon at one end. In the plate e are formed recesses into which the
last mentioned ends of the studs ff respectively pass. The studs ff are respectively
provided with nuts g g which are capable of being screwed upon screw-threads formed
on the ends of the studs ff. I provide the plate e with projecting parts e²e which
projecting parts e e pass respectively into recesses formed in bosses upon the slide-
valve b. The projecting parts e e³ must be so fitted into the recesses into which they
pass that there will be little or no "play" between the projecting parts e²e and the
recesses into which they respectively pass. is the valve spindle the end of which
is screwed into a boss j formed upon a strap or bridle ; which surrounds the slide-
valve b.

page_text: The plate e is formed of such length and breadth that the movement of the slide-
valve 6 when at work will never place the interior of the valve box E in communication
with the external air.
The surface a upon which the slide valve is slidden at work and the surface d¹
formed upon the cover d of the valve box E upon which the plate e is slidden when
the slide-valve is at work must be made parallel to each other.
When steam is admitted to the interior of the valve-box E the pressure of the steam
acting upon the back of the slide-valve b tends to force the slide-valve in the direction
indicated by the arrow G against the surface a. Portions of the surface e¹ of the
plate e being exposed to the external air by the openings F the pressure of the steam
in the interior of the valve-box E will be permitted to force the plate e in the direction
indicated by the arrow H.-The nuts g g are so adjusted in position upon the studs ff
respectively that the distance between the surface of the slide-valve and the
surface e of the plate e is equal to the distance between the surface a upon which the
slide-valve is slidden when at work and the surface d¹ upon the cover d of the valve-
box E against which the plate e is.slidden when at work. I close the recesses formed
in the plate e to receive the nuts g g, by means of plugs k. k which are provided with
screw-threads and capable of being screwed by means of the holes ¹ and a suitable
key into the recesses aforesaid which are provided with suitable screw-threads. The
plugs.prevent steam from escaping from the interior of the valve-box E into the
external air by means of the said recesses.
I find it preferable in practice to give such area to the openings Fin relation to the two
ports K L leading to the cylinder and the exhaust cavity J formed in the slide-valve b
that the pressure of the steam tending to force the valve band plate e in the direction
indicated by the arrow G shall be slightly in excess of the pressure of the steam
tending to force the plate e in the direction indicated by the arrow H.
I find in practice that in order to counterbalance the force with which the steam
tends to force the slide-valve 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow G the area of
the portion of the surface e¹ of the plate e exposed to the external air by means of the
openings F must equal the area of the exhaust cavity J of the slide-valve b.
In order to secure the nuts g g in any desired position upon the studs ff respectively
I employ the device to be next described which is shown on an enlarged scale in
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 Fig. 4 being a side elevation, Fig. 5 a side elevation partly in section
and Fig. 6 a plan. I provide an extended part of the stud with a number of faces
or flattened portions and over the nut 7 I place a cap 7 the interior of which cap is
formed to fit upon the sides of the nut J. In the top of the cap I form a hole
which corresponds with the faces or flattened portions formed upon the part of
the stud f. When it is desired to adjust the position of the nut g upon the stud f the
cap is removed from the nut g. The nut 7 is then adjusted as may be required.
The cap is then placed upon the nut and the hole in the top of the capis
placed upon the part of the stud f. When the cap 1 placed upon the nut g
and the part of the stud f such cap will by means of the faces or flattened
portions formed upon the part of the stud and the sides of the nut prevent
the nut from being accidentally turned upon the stud f. By providing the part f
of the stud with faces or flattened portions f² much more numerous than the sides
of the nut I am enabled to adjust the nut upon the stud with great nicety and
to retain the said nut g after adjustment in the desired position upon the stud f.
When the valve bis at work the plug serves to retain the cap in position upon
the nut and part of the stud f.
Upon the studs ff respectively I place springs m one end of each of which
abuts against the valve 6 while the remaining end of each of such springs m abuts
against the plate e. The springs m tend to force the valve in the direction indicated
by the arrow G and to force the plate e in the direction indicated by the arrow H.
The springs m keep the valve in contact with the surface a and the plate e in
contact with the surface d' thereby preventing the valve & from leaving the surface a
when steam is absent from the valve-box E.
In some cases to enable the plate above-mentioned to be adjusted relatively to the

page_text: slide-valve to which it is applied and relatively to the surface formed upon the cover
of the valve-box or other suitable part with which surface the above-mentioned
surface of the plate aforesaid is in contact, I employ an incline or wedge or inclines
or wedges operated by a screw or screws and to secure the said plate in position
upon the slide-valve after such plate has been adjusted by means of the above-
mentioned incline or wedge or inclines or wedges I employ a nut or nuts and a stud
or studs secured to the slide-valve or for such purpose I employ any other suitable
means. This application of my invention may be readily understood by means of
Figs. 10 and 11 which illustrate a somewhat different application of my invention
I shall not therefore further describe this application of my invention.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a method of applying my invention to a slide valve which
is provided with an additional valve capable of being slidden upon the back of the
principal valve. Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section, Fig. 8 a cross section taken on
the line M N of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a plan of the valve with certain parts removed.
In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, 0 is a valve-box formed upon the part n in which are
formed the ports P P* by which steam is conducted to and from the cylinder
and in which part n is formed the exhaust passage R. As the valves o o* for
admitting steam to and allowing it to escape from the ports P P* are similar in
construction and operation I shall for convenience of description describe one only
of such valves and to corresponding parts of the other of such valves I shall
apply with the addition of an asterisk the same letters of reference as are applied to the
corresponding parts of the valve described.
The valve box O is provided with covers p p* secured to the sides q of the valve
box O by bolts or screws in the usual manner. is the surface upon which the valve o
is slidden to and fro when at work. In the valve o is formed the exhaust cavity S.
and through the valve o is formed a passage T which at times communicates with
the port P. In contact with the back of the slide-valve o is a plates which plate s is
prevented from moving longitudinally by projections formed upon the said plates and
passing between projections formed on the side q of the valve-box 0.
The
Situate at the side of the plate s opposite to the side at which is the slide-valve o is
the "cut off" valve t to which is connected a rod U by means of which the said
"cut off" valve t receives motion-The arrangement of valve consisting of the valve o,
fixed plates and "cut off" valve t is an arrangement of valve in ordinary use and I
make no claim thereto. vare studs each secured by one end to the valve o.
remaining ends of the studs v pass through holes formed in a plate w.
Each of the studs v is provided with a nut which passes into a recess formed in
the plate w.
The surface w¹ of the plate to and the surface p¹ of the cover p of the
valve-box O which is in contact with the surface w' of the plate wo are both formed.
flat When steam is admitted to the valve-box O such steam will tend to force the
slide-valve o plates and valve t in the direction indicated by the arrow U and by so
doing tend to force the slide-valve o against the surface-Through the cover of
P
the valve-box O I form openings V by means of which portions of the surface w¹ of
the plate wo are exposed to the external air-Upon each of the studs I place a coiled
spring y. The coiled springs y tend to force the slide-valve o against the surface rand
the plate against the cover p of the valve-box 0-The nuts are so adjusted that
when the face of the slide-valve o is in contact with the surface the face to¹ of the
plate to shall be in contact with the surface p¹ of the cover p of the valve-box O-Tho
pressure of the steam in the valve-box O in consequence of the openings V tends to
force the plate to in the direction indicated by the arrow W and thus counterbalance
the force of the steain tending to press the valve o against the surface r.
ย
The cut off valve t is connected to the "cut off" valve t* by means of the rod u*
and the slide valve o is connected to the slide valve o* by means of the rod The
"cut off valves t t*. and the slide-valves ao are respectively actuated by the
rods u. in the ordinary manner.
To the slide-valve o I attach by means of bolts and nuts, parts 1 the ends of which
by passing into recesses formed in the plate w constrain the plate w to move with the
slide-valve -The plate w may be adjusted in position relative to the slide-valye o by

page_text: the nuts upon the studs p in a manner similar to that in which the plate e is adjusted
in position relative to the slide-valve b shown in and hereinbefore described in reference
to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
In the cover I form openings which may be closed by lids 2, and by means of
which openings the nuts may be adjusted in position upon the studs v.
I have hitherto referred to the plates e and to wo* as being slidden in contact with
the cover of the valve-box but I would have it understood that the said plates e and w wo
may be slidden in contact with a suitable part provided with an opening or openings
communicating with the external air.
In applying my invention to those steam-engines or other motive-power-engines or
apparatus in which as in certain locomotive steam-engines two slide-valves are placed
back to back in one valve-box, I employ an arrangement such as that shown in
Figs. 10 and 11 in which figures Fig. 10 is a plan and Fig. 11 a cross section of so
much of a locomotive steam-engine of the class above referred to as is requisite to
illustrate this application of my invention-X is the valve box in which is a partition 3-
Through the partition 3 is formed an opening 4 by means of which the portions of the
valve-box X on opposite sides of the partition 3 may communicate with each other-
55* are the slide-valves which are capable of being slidden upon the surfaces 6 and 6*
respectively. As the valve 5 and certain parts connected therewith are similar to the
valve 5* and certain parts connected therewith I shall only describe one of such valves
and the parts connected to such valve and to the other of such valves and the parts
connected therewith I shall affix with the addition of an asterisk (*) the same letters
of reference as are affixed to the valve described and the corresponding parts connected
therewith-The slide-valve 5 is slidden to and fro upon the surface 6 by means of the
spindle 7 which by means of nuts is connected to a crosshead 8 secured to a rod 9 by
nuts. Secured to the crosshead 8 by nuts is a spindle 10 one end of which screws in
a socket which is situate in a T-shaped recess formed in a part attached to a plate 11.
The surface 11ª of the plate 11 and the surface 3 of the partition 3 are made flat so
that the surface 11ª may be slidden upon the surface 3"-Formed upon the plate 11
are side pieces 12 upon which are formed projecting ribs 13 which are inclined to the
surface 11. The projecting ribs 13 pass into grooves formed in the sides of the
slide-valve 5. By means of the nuts on the rod 10 and inclined projecting ribs 13 the
plate 11 is adjusted upon the slide-valve 5 so that the surface 5 of the slide-valve 5
will be in contact with the surface & and that the surface 11 of the plate 11 will be
in contact with the surface 3ª of the partition 3-Through the partition 3 I form an
opening 14 which is in communication with the external air by means of an opening 15
I form the opening 14 of an area equal to that of the exhaust cavity 16 of the
valve 5 and thereby cause the pressure of the steam within the valve box X which
tends to force the slide valve 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y to be
counterbalanced by the pressure of the steam which tends to force the plate 11 in the
direction indicated by the arrow Z-The opening 14 serves to place a portion of each
of the surfaces 11ª 11** of the plates 11 11* in communication with the external air.
If the opening 14 be divided into two portions by a partition placed parallel to the
surfaces. 6, 6* upon which the slide-valves 5, 5* are slidden when at work and each of
the portions into which the opening 14 is divided is caused to communicate by a
separate opening 15 with the external air any leakage of steam which may
take place between the surfaces 11" 11" of the plates 11. 11* and the surfaces 3" 30*
of the partition 3 may be caused to indicate to an observer whether such leakage
occurs between the surface 11ª of the plate 11 and the surface 3* of the partition 3
or between the surface 11** of the plate 11 and the surface 3* of the partition 3.
In applying my invention to such slide-valves as are employed in those steam-
engines in which the steam after acting upon the piston of one cylinder is caused to
act upon the piston of another oylinder I expose to the external air so much of
the surface of the plate secured upon the back of the slide-valve that the said
slide-valve shall never be removed by the forces acting upon it and upon the said
plate, out of contact with the surface upon which such slide-valve is slidden.
In the foregoing description I have with certain exceptions, only referred to

page_text: my invention as being applied to the slide-valves of steam-engines but I would have
it understood that my invention may also be applied to the slide-valves employed in
other motive-power-engines and apparatus actuated by the pressure of fluids.
Although I have above described certain modes in which my invention may be
carried into effect I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
use of my invention precisely in the manner hereinbefore described as the mode in
which my invention may be carried into effect may be somewhat modified without
departure from the principles of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein before described arrangements of apparatus for preventing the slide-
valves employed in steam-engines or other motive-power-engines or apparatus
actuated by the pressure of fluids from being unduly pressed against the surfaces
upon which such slide-valves are slidden when they are at work which arrangements
of apparatus consist in a plate or plates connected to the slide valve or slide valves
by means of a bolt or stud or bolts or studs and pressed apart from the said slide-
valve or slide-valves by means of a spring or springs and adjusted in position relative
to the said slide-valve or slide-valves by means of a nut or nuts and constructed
arranged and acting in conjunction with an opening or openings communicating
with the external air substantially in the manner hereinbefore described in reference
to and indicated by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9 of the drawings hereunto
annexed.
2. In the arrangement of apparatus illustrated by Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings
hereunto annexed plates such as 11 and 11* respectively provided with inclined
projecting ribs 13, 13* rods 10, 10* nuts partition 3 and opening 14 all constructed
arranged and operating for the purposes and substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described in reference to and indicated by Figs. 10 and 11 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
3. The herein before described arrangements of apparatus for preventing the slide-
valves employed in steam-engines or other motive-power-engines or apparatus actuated
by the pressure of fluids from being unduly pressed against the surfaces upon which
such slide valves are slidden when they are at work which arrangements of apparatus
consist in a plate or plates connected to the slide-valve or slide-valves in any suitable
manner and adjusted in position relative to the said slide-valve or slide-valves by
means of an incline or wedge or inclines or wedges and acting in conjunction with an
opening or openings communicating with the external air substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
JAMES GASKELL.