IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE. SAME
Year: 1854

page_text: Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES APPLICABLE TO
STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE.
SAME."
"
Sealed the 31st October 1854, and dated the 2nd May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Waller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
May 1854.
I, RICHARD WALLER, of Leeds,, in the County of York, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
WITH THE SAME," to be as follows:-
I propose to reduce very materially the pressure of the steam on the valve,
by covering it closely with a moveable valve box with arms or projections,
which valve box is supported by and moves backwards and forwards on rollers"
carrying the valve with it, which motion on the rollers diminishes the friction.
caused by the sliding action as at present adopted. The valve is pierced or
opened entirely to the required dimensions of the steam ports, leaving such
surface to be acted upon by the pressure resulting only on the exhaust side of
the valve, which serves to keep the valve in contact with the surface of the
face plate in the steam chest. The valve is coupled in the usual way, but it'
may require packing, which may be accomplished in any efficient manner, as
it is merely required-to prevent the steam out of the chest passing by the sides
of the valve into the aforesaid cover, and consequently to the exhaust. The

page_text: cover of the slide valve will have a lid on the top, so that the valve can be
adjusted and examined when required, which lid will also require packing.
The second part of my said improvements consists of using rollers, so con-
nected that they move in the same direction, and as one is gradually opening
the steam port, the other is closing by means of flexible flaps attached to the
face plate; for this purpose I use a chain made of links, similar to the spring
box of a watch, but multiplied in the width to any dimensions required, or I
can obtain the same results by any suitable flexible pliable material. It is
evident that these improvements are applicable to the valves of steam engines,
reservoirs, sluices, or any other purposes where great pressure results from
fluids or aerial-form pressure, and will be clearly understood by reference to
the accompanying outline Drawings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Waller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WALLER, of Leeds, in the County of York, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Waller, Her special licence that I, the said Richard.
Waller, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others, as I, the
said Richard Waller, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVES APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER. PURPOSES, AND IN-APPARATUS
CONNECTED WITH THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Richard Waller, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Waller, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):-
My Invention relates to the peculiar construction and arrangement of the
valve, by which I reduce very materially the pressure of the steam on it, by
covering it closely with a moveable valve box with arms or projections, which
box is supported by and moves backwards and forwards on rollers carrying
the valve with it. This motion of the rollers diminishes the friction caused
by the sliding action as heretofore generally adopted. The valve is pierced or
opened entirely to the required dimensions of the steam ports, leaving such
surface to be acted upon by the pressure resulting only on the exhaust side of
the valve, which serves to keep the valve in contact with the surface of the
face plate in the steam chest. The valve is coupled in the usual way, and
may be packed in any efficient manner, as it is only necessary to prevent the
steam from the chest passing by the sides of the valve into the aforesaid cover
slide, and consequently to the exhaust. The cover of the slide valve can have
a lid on the top of it, if necessary, so that the valve can be adjusted and
examined when required, which lid will also require packing.
The second part of my said improvements consists of two sets of rollers, and
two rollers to each set, with flexible flaps to keep them at the proper distance
asunder, so connected that they move in the same direction, and as one is
gradually opening the port the other is closing it, by the roller pressing down
the flexible flaps, which have bars or ribs enclosed or fixed on the top, or by a.
chain made of links, similar to the spring box of a watch, but multiplied in
the width to any dimensions required; or I can obtain the same results by
substituting for the said flaps or chain an endless band of india-rubber, or any
flexible or pliable material, so put on the rollers that as one roller covers one
part the other will be open, and so on continuously.
It is evident that these improvements are applicable to the valves of steam
engines, reservoirs, sluices, or it will constitute of itself an improved tap, as
shewn in the Drawings, and be suitable for any other purpose where great
pressure results from fluids or æriform bodies. These my said improvements
will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Draw-
ings, in which the same letters of reference are used to represent the same
parts in all the Figures.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 are views of the wagon valve; Figs. 5 and 6 are
views of the apparatus, as suitable for taps for all purposes of steam, cœriform,
or fluids; and Figs. 8, 9, and 10, are views of the flexible rolling and flap
valves. The wagon valve is denoted by the following letters :-a, represents
the valve rollers; b, the valve; c, the valve cover; d, the roller guards; e, the

page_text: groove for the rollers; f, the valve girdle with valve rods; g, the valve chest:
h, the packing, to prevent the steam getting out of the chest into the exhaust;
i, a bracket to support the said packing, which packing is proposed to be of
metal. Figs. 5 and 6 shew by the Drawings my improvements in taps. j, the
chest of the tap in which the rolling flap works; k,, the flexible flap, attached
to the roller; 1, the outlet; m, the inlet; n; the rod to open and close the
ports,, by being pushed backwards and forwards; o, the roller, to which is fixed
the flexible flaps; p, the part where the flap is fixed; q, the axle or pin; q',
the arms of the rod through which the axle of the roller passes; r, the, brass,
ring for the packing to press against in the gland box when the gland is
screwed.down; s, the gland; t, the rod, handle, or knob; *, the gland or
stuffing box. In Figs. 8, 9, and 10, u represents the endless belt; v, the
arms and rod; w, the axle or pin; a, the rollers, which are kept at their.
proper distance by the arms of the rod v; y, the flexible flap with. enclosed.
bars;, the ribbed ports; 2¹, the part where the endless belt is fixed.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Inven-
tion, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without
departing from the principle thereof; but I claim as of my Invention, and.
which to the best of my knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used
within this realm, the apparatus with rollers and flexible. flaps. or bands,
suitable for valves, taps, or other purposes, as herein.described and illustrated
in the accompanying: Sheet of Drawings...
In witness. whereof, I, the said Richard Waller, have hereunto set my.
hand and. seal, this Thirty-first day of: October, One thousand eight.
hundred and fifty-four.
RICHARD WALLER. (L.s.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Richard Waller in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent. Agent,
⚫ Manchester.