Improvements in Valves for Steam or other Fluid Pressure Engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1337
Complete Left, 6th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Improvements in Valves for Steam or other Fluid Pressure Engines.
I ARTHUR GEORGE BROWN of 5 Osborne Villas Cathcart Scotland Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of valve generally used in multiple cylinder
single acting engines although valves constructed according to my invention can be
employed in single or double acting engines as may be desired.
The invention consists in the improved valve constructed and adapted, to operate as
hereinafter set forth.
The valve is substantially of cylindrical outline in cross section but is cut away at
suitable points forming a species of maltese cross working in a steam or pressure
chest provided with inlet and outlet ports.
The motion of the valve is reciprocating that is, after making less than one quarter
of a revolution it turns back to its previous position.
If it be assumed that the valve is employed in a double cylinder single acting steam
engine its operation will be as follows.
Steam is admitted into the steam chest upon both sides of the valve, upon one side
of which it passes by means of the recess between the points or bearing surfaces of the
valve from the steam chest to the cylinder port to which steam is at the same time
admitted from the other side of the valve through a supplementary groove or
opening.
While steam is being so admitted the exhaust from the second cylinder is open and
the discharge takes place through the recess between the bearing surfaces at top and
bottom of the valve. As the motion is reversed the steam inlet to the first cylinder is
closed and just before that to the second cylinder is opened the supplemental groove

page_text: in the valve opens communication momentarily between the two cylinders so that the
expanded steam from the first exhausts partially into the second cylinder just before
the steam inlet thereto begins to open and the action as described with reference to
the first cylinder is repeated.
Any number of valves may be arranged to operate in one engine and the exhaust
from a high pressure cylinder may be passed through a valve as described into a low
pressure cylinder or the valves may be employed in double acting engines as desired.
Dated the 6th April 1887.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: I ARTHUR GEORGE BROWN of 5 Osborne Villas Cathcart, Scotland,' 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:-
This invention relates to that class of valve generally used in multiple cylinder
single acting engines although valves constructed according, to my invention can be
employed in single or double acting engines as may be desired.
The invention consists in the improved valve constructed and adapted to operate as
herereinafter set forth.
The valve is substantially of cylindrical outline in 'cross section but is cut away at
suitable points forming a species of maltese cross working in a steam or pressure chest
provided with inlet and outlet ports. The motion of the valve is reciprocating, that is,
after making less than one quarter of a revolution it turns back to its previous
position.
1
In order that my invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which Fig. 1
shows in sectional view the valves when employed in a four cylinder compound acting
steam engine, and Fig. 2 a detached longitudinal view of one of the valves. The
operation may be described as follows:-
Steam is admitted into the steam chest A upon both sides of the valve B, upon one
side of which it passes by means of the recess between the points or bearing surfaces
of the valve from the steam chest A, to the port of cylinder C, to which steam is at
the same time admitted from the other side of the valve B through a supplementary
groove or opening b therein.
While steam is being so admitted the exhaust from the second cylinder C¹ is open
and the discharge takes place through the recess between the bearing surfaces of the
valves B, B', to the top of cylinder D, the exhaust from beneath the piston therein,
being open through the recess in valve B2 to final exhaust E, while the exhaust from
the top of the piston in cylinder D is open through valves B1, B2, to the bottom of
said cylinder. It will thus he seen that while pressure is being exerted upon the top
of the pistons in the cylinders, the final exhaust if connected with a condenser is
pulling in the same direction from beneath the lower pressure piston. As the valve
motion is reversed the steam inlet to the cylinder O is closed and just before that to
the cylinder is opened, the supplemental passage 6 in the valve B opens communi-
cation momentarily between the two cylinders C, C, so that the expanded steam from
the first, exhausts partially into the second cylinder just before the full steam pressure
is admitted.
The further movement of the valve B closes communication between cylinders C, C¹,
and opens the latter to full steam pressure, and the former completes its exhaust
through valve B', to the top of cylinder D¹, the final exhaust from beneath the piston

page_text: in which, is at the same moment opened through B2 to E, while the exhaust from top
to bottom of cylinder D is opened through valves B¹, B². It will be understood that
the passages 1, 2, open communication momentarily between cylinders D, D', in
the same manner as described with reference to valve B and cylinders (, C¹.
The stems F by which motion is transmitted to the valves are journalled at each
end and carried in suitable bearings with the object of holding the valve centrally in
its seat and lessening wear on the face thereof. Any ordinary means are employed
for operating the valves and for the purpose of balancing with regard to the exhaust,
communication is made between the bottom and top recesses of the valve. This may
be conveniently done by passages f, f, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2.
I do not of course confine myself to the use of any particular number of valves, or
to the specific construction of engine shown, as both may be varied as circumstances
render desirable.
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. A pressure valve of substantially the form of a Maltese Cross so arranged in the
pressure chest as to be practically balanced in all positions as described.
2. A valve of the class described provided with a supplemental passage adapted to
momentarily open communication between the two cylinders or between the two ends
of the same cylinder just before the full pressure and exhaust ports are opened,
substantially as described.
3. A valve of the class described provided with a supplemental passage adapted to
act as a second pressure inlet and thus admit pressure from both sides of the valve
to the same cylinder port, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of January 1888.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.