Improvements in or relating to Steam, Hydraulic, and other Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug.. 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1897-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steam, Hydraulic, and other Engines.
We, JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACHER, of 67 Union Terrace, York, Mathematical
Instrument Maker, THOMAS EMERSON PICKERING, of Heathfield House, Garforth,
Cattle Dealer, ALFRED WHITTAM, of 71 Huntingdon Road, York, Commercial
Traveller, and GEORGE WILLIAM TINDALL, of Tynedale House, 132 Victoria Road,
Scarborough, Clothier, all in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in steam, hydraulic, and other engines—such
as for example as are described and illustrated in the Specification of Letters Patent
dated 7th August 1894, No. 15061-in which the supply of steam, water, compressed
air or other liquid or fluid is regulated or controlled by a circular valve having a
continuous rotary motion imparted to it by suitable gearing say from the fly wheel
shaft or other convenient moving part of the engine.
According to this invention one, or more (preferably two though not necessarily so)
double acting cylinders are mounted and fixed upon bed or framework, or both, at
a suitable distance from or opposite to each other. Each cylinder is provided with
two parts and with a piston capable of reciprocating in it by its connection with the
fly wheel shaft by means of a crank (slotted and weighted or otherwise) connecting
and piston rods. The ports in each cylinder are arranged at each end thereof and
they are respectively connected by suitable pipes and passages with a circular valve
casing and both the cylinders are operated from a single valve rotating in the said.
valve casing.
The valve casing is constructed as follows:-
The casing may be cast or built up in parts and may be of any suitable length,
diameter and thickness. It may also be provided with a cover or mantle at one or
both ends, preferably at both ends. In the centre of the casing is a hole of suitable
diameter, and. which extends the full length thereof, say, in a vertical direction.
Around this hole is arranged any required number of circumferential grooves or
recesses, say for example four, that is a circumferential groove is provided for each
port. When the cylinders are placed directly opposite each other the circumferential
grooves in communication with the cylinders may increase in size as they approach
their respective cylinders; otherwise they are of the same size all round.
Each circumferential groove is in communication with a number, say-for example
three, or more or less if so desired-of, say vertical, holes or passages, hereafter termed
valve ports, having openings or orifices in or on the seating of the valve. Wholly or
partially around say the valve ports is formed a jacket which is employed for.
conveying away the exhaust, or when steam is employed it may, if so desired but not
necessarily so, be kept hot by live steam. The jacket is provided with an opening to
the outer air. On say the top of the valve casing is mounted and fixed a cover or
mantle having an opening through which steam, water, or other liquid or fluid is
admitted to the valve casing. Within the said cover or mantle is the rotating valve
which is provided with as many, say vertical, openings as there are valve ports
communicating with each circumferential groove. The valve is mounted on a rod,

page_text: one portion of which passes say down or through the central hole, whilst its upper
portion passes through a gland in the cover or mantle.
On the inner face of the valve is also provided a number of apertures or recesses for
receiving the exhaust from the valve ports and conducting it to the jacket. In order to
reduce the friction as much as possible, in a cover or inantle provided; say, at the
bottom of the casing is a piston of rather smaller area than the valve. One portion,
say the lower portion of its rod passes through a gland in the cover or mantle whilst
the upper part of this rod may form a step for the pendant portion of the valve rod
that passes, through the central hole. Or the valve and piston may be connected
together by any other convenient and equivalent means. The lower cover or mantle
is connected to steam, water, compressed air, or other fluid or liquid inlet by means
of a pipe or passage to enable say for example the live steam to act upon the under-
side of the piston at or about the same or a slightly reduced pressure as it acts upon
the upper-surface of the valve, thereby reducing the friction, whilst preserving an
equilibrium (or nearly so) of pressure. This portion of the invention. may be used in
combination with valve and its casing described in the Specification of the before
mentioned Letters Patent.
When it is required to provide for a reversing actions of the pistons in the
cylinders, the portion of the casing containing the valve ports may be made to he
capable of rotating therein when actuated by a hand or other lover or its equivalent
whereby the vertical passages, that, in one position communicate say with the port at
the top of: the cylinder, may be altered to communicate with the bottom portyor
vice versa.
When the valve and its casing is employed for compound engines, there will
require to be a double circle of valve ports provided between the exhaust jacket and
the central hole. and a double set of openings in the valve for communication, there-
with. The valve ports are arranged to, communicate-with their respective, circum-
ferential grooves.
By arranging the circumferential.grooves to be within the exhaust jacket a much
better flow of steam, can be obtained, and consequently a considerably, less loss, from
cylinder condensation is the result.
The valve is also kept at an even temperature by an outer casing or jacket, when
filled with either live steam from the boiler, or by the exhaust steam..
Further the cylinder, condensation will be very little, if any greater, than in 'a
jacketed cylinder with the ordinary slide valve,.consequently the superiority of an
engine fitted with this valve, over an engine of the same size fitted with the ordinary
valve, is the less frictional resistance in driving the respective valves. z.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
3

page_text: Scarborough, Clothier, all in the County of York, 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 improvements in steam, hydraulic, and other engines-as
for example such as are described and illustrated in the Specification of Letters Patent
dated 7th August 1894, No. 15061-in which the supply of steam, water, compressed
air or other liquid or fluid is regulated or controlled by a circular valve having a
continuous rotary motion iinparted to it by single gearing, say. for example-from
the fly wheel shaft or other convenient moving part of the engine.
The objects of the present invention' are first, to adapt an engine, controlled by 'a
circular valve having a continuous rotary motion, to be worked expansively; second,
to arrange. the circumferential grooves to be within the exhaust jacket whereby.i
much better flow, say, of steam is obtained, and consequently there is considerably
less cylinder condensation; third; to reduce the friction on the face of. the 'circular
continuous rotating valve; and fourth, to provide means for reversing the enginé..
The herein described improvements may be applied to either horizontal or vertical
engines.
S
In 'the drawings hereunto annexed this invention is shown applied to a horizontal
engine, adapted, say for example; for use on a motor car-provided with two
cylinders.
Fig. is a side elevation.
Fig. 2 an end elevation.
Fig. 3 a part sectional plan on irregular line y y Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 à sectional elevation on line ca Figs. 3 and 5.
Fig. 5 a jaŕt external elevation of the cylinders..
Fig 6 an enlarged part sectional elevation of the valve, its casing, and .cut off
plates...
Fig. 7anienlarged part sectional plan of the valve casing showing one arrangement
of cut off plates with the valve removed.
Fig. 8 a part sectional elevation of cut off plates on line ww Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 a plan of cut off lever.
Fig. 10an enlarged sectional elevation for pressure compensating arrangement for
reducing the friction on the continuously rotating cirenlar valve.
Fig. 1 an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve seat showing the arrangements
of valve ports and circumferential grooves
Fig. 12 an enlarged part sectional elevation of the valve casing with the valve and
cut off plates shown in position.
:
Fig. 13 an enlarged part. sectional plan of the valve casing and a plan of the
valve.
Fig. 14 a sectional elevation of a valve seating,' cover, cut off plates, with valve
show in position, and adapted to make, say, one rotation to, say, six complete
revolutions of the crank shaft.
Fig. 15 plan of valve seating shown at Fig. 14 witli valve removed.
Fig. 16 a plan of underside of valve shown at Fig. 14.
Fig. 17'arsectional elevation of a valve seating, cover, cut off plates, with a valve
shown in position and adapted to make, say, one rotation to, say, three complete
revolutions of the crank shaft.
Fig. 18 a plan of valve seat shown at Fig. 17:1
Fig 19 a plan of the underside of the 'valve'sliown at. Fig. 17.
21
Fig. 20 a sectional elevation showing arrangement of bosses for operating ent of
plates from the centre.
Like parts in all the views are marked with the same letters and figures of
reference.
:
In this invention one, or more" (preferably two though not necessarily so) double.
acting cylinders A and B are mounted and fixed upon a bed or fraiiework (one or
both) at a suitable distance from or opposite to each other. In the drawings here-

page_text: unto annexed the cylinders A and B are shown arranged parallel with each other with
the valve casing (to be hereafter described) arranged between them. Each of the
cylinders is provided with two ports marked respectively A A', B' B, and with a
piston (marked respectively D'and E, that is to say piston D reciprocates in
cylinder A and piston E reciprocates in cylinder B) capable of reciprocating therein
by its connection with the fly wheel shaft J by means of the piston rods
Fand G and connecting rods H and I and cranks K and K¹ slotted and weighted or
otherwise.
The ports A' A and B B in each eylinder, A and B, are arranged at each end
thereof and they are respectively connected by suitable pipes or passages marked
L, M, N and 0, with a circular valve casing P, namely port A by passage L., port A
by passage M, port B' 'by passage N, and port B by passage O; and both the
cylinders are operated from a single valve S rotating in the said valve casing.
The valve casing P is constructed as follows:-
The casing P may be cast or built up in parts and may be of any suitable length,
diameter and thickness, but in this invention it is preferred to build the seating up
in parts, and arrange one or more of the said parts to be capable of being turned or
rotated within the other. That is to say, the part of the casing containing the
circumferential grooves marked 1, 2, 3, 4, and valve ports marked 5, 6, 7, 8, are
arranged so as to be capable of being turned or rotated within the portion of the
casing P containing the exhaust jacket or ports marked 9. The said parts are shown
retained in position by means of the circumferential lip q and flange q' shown at
Fig. 11. The casing P is provided with a cover or mantle, hereafter termed
covers QQ, at one or both ends, preferably at both ends.
In the centre of the casing P is a hole R of suitable diameter, and which extends
the full length thereof, say, in a vertical direction. Around this hole is arranged
any required number of circumferential grooves 1, 2, 3 and 4, say for example four as
shown, that is a circumferential groove is provided for each port. When the cylinders
are placed directly opposite each other the circumferential grooves in communication
with the cylinders may increase in size as they approach their respective cylinders;
otherwise they are of the same size all round.
Each circumferential groove is in communication with a number,-say for example
three, or more or less if so desired-of, say vertical, holes or passages, 5, 6, 7 and 8,
hereafter termed valve ports, having openings or orifices in or on the seating of the
valve. For convenience of reference the odd figures of the cylinder ports, and valve
ports, are arranged to be in communication with each other, and in like manner the
even numbers are in communication with each other. That is to say circumferential
groove 1 and valve port 5 are in communication; circumferential groove 2 commu-
nicates with valve port 6; circumferential groove 3 with valve port 7; and
circumferential groove 4 with valve port 8.
In order that the arrangements of ports, circumferential grooves, and valve ports
may not be misunderstood, we will state again in a concise form the order of
communication namely:-
For cylinder A:-Port A, passage L, circumferential groove 2 and valve ports 6
are in communication with each other.
Port A', passage M, circumferential groove 4 and valve ports 8 communicate with
each other.
For cylinder B-Port B', passage N, circumferential groove 1 and valve ports 5
are in communication with each other.
Port B³, passage O, circumferential groove 3, and valve ports 7 are all in
communication with each other.
Wholly or partially around say the valve ports is formed the exhaust jacket 9
which is employed for conveying away the exhaust through pipe 10, or when steam is
employed it may, if so desired but not necessarily so, be kept hot by live steam. The
jacket is provided with an opening to the outer air which may be the before
mentioned pipe 10.
On, say, the top of the valve casing P is mounted and fixed the cover Q having an

page_text: pening 11 through which steam, water, or other liquid or fluid is admitted to the
alve casing P. Within the said cover is the rotating valve S which is provided with
s many, say vertical, openings 8 as there are valve ports communicating with each
ircumferential groove. The valve S is mounted on a rod T one portion of which
asses say down or through the central hole R, whilst its upper portion passes
hrough a gland T in the cover Q. The upper end of the valve rod T is armed, say,
with a bevel wheel T arranged to gear with a pinion J mounted on the crank
shaft J. By this means a continuous rotary motion is imparted to the valve S.
On the inner face of the valve S is also provided a number of apertures or recesses,
preferably recesses a' for receiving the exhaust from the valve ports and conducting
it to the jacket 9. It will be noted that the admission openings & pass entirely
through the valve, whilst the recesses al only pass partially through it. The surface
of the valve face between the apertures and recesses & is employed for closing
the valve ports not then in use.
In order to reduce the friction on the valve S as much as possible, in a cover Q1 to
form what we term the balance cylinder-provided, say, at the bottom of the
casing P-is a piston U of rather smaller area than the valve. One portion, say, the
lower portion of the rod V, upon which piston U is mounted, passes through a gland
or hole in say the bedplate C whilst the upper part of this rod V (which does not
revolve) may form a step for the pendant portion of the valve rod T that passes
through the central hole R. Or the valve and piston may be connected together by
The lower cover Q¹ is connected to the
any other convenient and equivalent, means.
steam, water, compressed air, or other fluid or liquid inlet 10 or to the cover Q by
means of a pipe or passage X to enable say for example the live steam to act upon
the underside of the piston U at or about the same or a slightly reduced pressure as
it acts upon the upper surface of the valve S, thereby reducing the friction, whilst
preserving an equilibrium (or nearly so) of pressure. This portion of the invention
inay be used in combination with valve and its casing described in the Specification
of the before mentioned Letters Patent. When it is required to provide for a reversing
action of the pistons D and E in the cylinders A and B the portion of the casing P
containing the valve ports may be made to be capable of rotating therein, as show at
Fig. 14, when actuated by a hand or other lever Y or its equivalent whereby the
valve ports 5, 6, 7 and 8 when in one position communicate say for example as
follows: For causing the piston D in cylinder A to descend, while piston E in
cylinder B ascends, steam is then admitted to the top piston D through valve port 6,
circunferential groove 2, passage L, and port A' in cylinder A; simultaneously the
steam is admitted to the underside of piston E in cylinder B through valve port 7,
circumferential groove 3, passage O, and port B3. But should it be required to
reverse the action of the pistons, say, prior to the completion of their stroke in the
direction described then by partially rotating the portion of the valve casing P con-
made to enter on the upper side of
taining the valve ports, steam can be
piston E and the underside of piston D, entering the cylinders A and B respectively
through ports A and B and the passages, circumferential grooves, and valve ports
communicating therewith.
When the valve S and its casing Q is employed for compound engines, there will
require to be a double circle of valve ports 5, 6, 7, 8, see Figs. 14 to 16, provided
between the exhaust jacket 9 and the central hole R and a double set of openings 8 in
the valve for communication therewith. This double set of valve ports are in com-
munication with each other and arranged to communicate with their respective
circumferential grooves as before described, so as to be capable for use for exhaust
purposes.
By arranging the circumferential grooves to be within the exhaust jacket a much
better flow of steam can be obtained, and consequently a considerably less loss from
eylinder condensation is the result.
The valve is also kept at an even temperature by an outer casing or jacket, when
filled with either live steam from the boiler, or by the exhaust steam.

page_text: Further the cylinder condensation will be very little, if any greater, than in
jacketed cylinder with the ordinary slide valve, consequently the superiority of a
engine fitted with this valve, over an engine of the same size fitted with the ordinar
valve, is the less frictional resistance in driving the respective valves.
When it is 'required to work the engine expansively cut off plates Z Zar
employed, and arranged to work one above the other in the cover Q between the fac
of the valve scat Pand face of the valve S as shown at Fig. 6. The cut off plates ZZ
are provided and perforated with a number of apertures or openings 2 corresponding
with the number of valve ports in the valve seat and openings in the exhaus
ring 9. The openings in the lower cut off plate Z are smaller than those in the
upper plate Z owing to the former being provided with projecting lips 22 arranged
to pass into and work within the openings of the plate 2 as shown at Figs. 7 and 8
Any suitable arrangement of lever device may be employed for operating the cut of
plates, as for example, the said plates may be provided with slots 12 and 13. A
portion of each slot is concentric with the axis of the operating lever 14, and the
other part so arranged as to form a cam for operating the plate. The cam like
portions of the two slots 12 and 13 are arranged in opposite directions so that when
pin 15.of the operating lever 14 is actuating one plate it can travel in the concentric
portion of the other slot. The cut off lever 14 may be mounted upon a shaft 16
working in an axial bearing formed on the cover Q; or it may be attached thereto.
When the lever is arranged as shown at Fig. 6 the pin 15 is mounted in a second
lever 17 fixed to the shaft 16 near its lower end. Or a separate lever 14 may be
provided for each cut off plate as at Figs. 15 and 19. In this arrangement the ends
of the levers 14 are notched to engage with cuniform projections on the plates or to
be worked from the centre bosses 19 and 20 long enough to pass through the valve
seat as shown at Fig. 20, being provided respectively on each plate ZZ for this
purpose. for operating them from the centre as shown at Fig. 20.
The reversing lever Y and cut off lever or levers 14 are arranged preferably on the
same side of the cylinder so as to be easily within reach of the Engineman.
The action of the engine is as follows:-
From the.drawings hereunto annexed it will be readily seen that, say, the steam
is almitted to the cylinders A and B alternately above and below the pistons D and E
respectively through the ports A and A, B, and B, the steam being conveyed
theroto from casing Q through apertures s, in the continuously rotating valve S, and
and the set of valve ports in connection with the requisite circumferential groove.
Thus, for example, say, if steam is admitted to port A2 of cylinder A, the steam
enters the cover Q at 11 and passes through openings s, down valve ports 6 into
circumferential groove 2, and along passage L to port A². Whilst the above
operation is being performed port A is open and would be used for the exhaust
which is conveyed through passage M to circumferential groove 4, valve ports 8,
and to recesses s' by which it is conveyed to the passage 9 and out through pipe or
opening 10...
If the valve is constructed so as to make one rotation to six complete revolutions of
the crank shaft, as shown at Figs. 14 to 16, the inner portion of the valve containing
the valve ports and circumferential grooves will have to be moved say twenty degrees
or thereabouts-in addition to what lead may be required-for reversing the
engine.
This arrangement of valve instead of having three inlets and three outlet ports as
the valve shown at Figs. 17 to 19 and which makes one rotation to three complete
revolutions of the crank shaft-requires double the number of port. holes both as
regards inlet and exhaust ports, and the seat of such valve is constructed with eight
valve ports (instend of four or twelve) namely two, opposite to each other-for eacli
end-of the cylinder and connected to the same circumferential groove. It will there-
fore he understood when steam is admitted by four ports in the seat of the valve the
aren of the inlet. a'is required to be large enough to supply one end of each cylinder.
Whereas if there is twelve valve ports in the seat of the valve the inlets s in the
valve are operating at one and the same time consequently they may be inade

page_text: considerably smaller than the area of the one just described say about one third of
its:area.
The following is an example of the working of the valve shown at Figs: 14 to 16
with the pistons D and E as shown at Fig. 3.
Steam is admitted at B1 in all cases (plus the lead) through valve port 5 and is
full on at three-sixteenths of the piston's stroke.
When the piston E has travelled half of its stroke, steam is then admitted through
valve port 6 and port A' into cylinder A, the piston D having then completed its
outward stroke. Both pistons now descend in their respective cylinders together
until piston D has performed one half of its stroke, when piston E will then be at the
end of its inward stroke and in position to be acted upon by steam through valve
port 7 entering cylinder B through port B3. The piston E then commences its
return outward stroke. The piston D still continues its inward movement, in
cylinder A until the inner end of the said cylinder is reached. Then piston E will
be again at its half stroke in cylinder B. Steam being admitted through valve port. 8
to cylinder A through port A will then cause piston D to commence its return out-
ward stroke.
When the engine is working expansively and, say, the steam is quickly put on
and is full on at three sixteenths of the stroke. It remains full on up to say one
half or one third of the stroke and is cut off say when three fourths of the stroke has
been completed and engine works the remainder of the stroke expansively.
When the piston in cylinder A has completed say one half of its stroke and the
piston in cylinder B is at its highest or deul point then steam may he admitted to
the cylinder B but in both cases the admission of steam is plus the lead which varies
according to circumstances.
The exhaust port is preferably arranged say with or about one eighth (of the
stroke) lead and is so arranged that it is closed say at or about the point when
the piston has accomplished three fourths or seven eighths of its stroke. At
Fig. 14 a double set of ports may be employed, as before described, for exhaust
purposes, to enable the steam to be conveyed away when it is cut off at an early
stage of the piston's stroke. The outer set of valve ports are arranged to be in
communication with the inner set as shown.
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
we claim is :-
1. In an engine such as herein described the continuous rotating valve and its
seating consisting of (1) a seat built up as described in parts arranged one within
the other and capable of being partially rotated for reversing purposes with (2) the
valve ports and circumferential grooves arranged in the said inner partially rotating
part and surrounded by an exhaust port or jacket such as 9; (3) a continuously
rotating valve provided with apertures such as 8 and recesses such as 8 working
within cover Q either directly upon the face of said valve seat, or having cut off
plates ZZ interposed between its inner face and the face of the valve seat; and
(4) the means for reducing the friction on the valve consisting of a piston, such
as U mounted on a rod such as V which forms a step for the free end of the
revolving valve rod T, said piston working in the cover or halance cylinder Q' at
the opposite end of the seat to said valve, to which, say, steam is conveyed from
the inlet H or cover Q by a pipe such as X at the same or a slightly reduced
pressure all combined, arranged, and operating in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated.
2. In an engine' such as herein described the combination with a continuously
rotating valve constructed as described and revolving within a cover upon a seating
having valve ports provided at an angle to circumferential grooves formed in the
periphery of said seat and with which the said valve ports communicate, of a

page_text: cover or balance cylinder arranged at the opposite end of said seat to that on which
the valve rotates, and in which a piston works, and to which, say, steam is conveyed ·
by a pipe from the inlet or valve cover at the same or a slightly reduced pressure,
said piston being mounted upon a rod which forms a step for the free end of the
revolving valve rod, all arranged and operating as herein before set forth. .
Dated this Fourth day of May 1897.
JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACHER.
THOMAS EMERSON PICKERING.
ALFRED WHITTAM.
GEORGE WILLIAM TINDALL.
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.