Improvements in Direct Acting Steam Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1900-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Direct Acting Steam Engines.
1. ROBERT RICHARDSON, of 16, Jamieson Street, Govanhill, in the City of
Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to steam engines such as are used for operating pumps
and known as direct acting engines and wherein the steam distribution is effected.
by two valves, one operated from the piston rod, and the other operated inter-
mittently by the steam and arranged to alternately cover and uncover port faces
in the first mentioned valve.
Under this invention the valve block which traverses_ the port faces of the
cylinder is operated by a rod jointed to the piston rod or by tappets thereon
so that it follows the movement of the piston, the ports being formed across the
cylinder instead of in the length of the cylinder; and the intermittently operated
valve or block is placed behind the first mentioned valve and moved at right
angles to the path of movement of the said valve so as to travel over ports formed
in the latter corresponding to the ports in the cylinder. The intermittently
operated valve block is formed on or carried by two pistons one at either end
fitted in a small cylinder placed transversely of the main cylinder and these
pistons are traversed by steam admitted to the outer ends of said cylinder by the
uncovering of steam ports or passages at each end of the traverse of the first or
main valve, such ports or passages being formed either in the main cylinder or
through the intermittently operated valve and pistons at its ends.
The cylinder face is preferably formed with a central exhaust port and a
steam port on either side leading one to each end of the cylinder. Above and below
these ports, a port is formed leading one to each end of the small cylinder.
Above and below these ports, a port is formed leading one to each end of the
small cylinder in which are fitted the pistons of the intermittently operated or
auxiliary valve or block. On the inner face of the main valve which has ports
cut through it corresponding to the ports in the cylinder face, cavities are formed
to connect the steam and exhaust ports and reverse the engine should the auxiliary
valve fail to act, the auxiliary valve having first cut off steam and closed the
exhaust. The auxiliary valve has a single exhaust cavity like an ordinary slide
valve, but is formed with end extensions for cutting off steam from the ports
in the main valve.
Dated this 20th day of November 1899

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
9.
This invention relates to steam engines such as are used for operating pumps
and known as direct acting engines and wherein the steam distribution is effected
by two valves, one operated from the piston rod, and the other operated inter-
mittently by the steam and arranged to 'alternately cover and uncover port faces
in the first mentioned valve.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being a
vertical section, Fig. 2 an elevation partly in section, and taken at right angles
to Fig. 1, and. Fig. 3 a horizontal section on the line - of a direct acting
engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are respec-
tively plan and inverted plan views of the controlling block or auxiliary valve,
and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the slide valve.
Under this invention the auxiliary valve or controlling block a which traverses
the port face b of the cylinder c is operated by a rod d jointed to the piston rod e,
or by tappets thereon, so that it follows the movement of the piston f, the
ports 61, 62, and 3, being formed across the cylinder c instead of in the length of
the cylinder; and the intermittently operated double plunger g which carries a
slide valve is placed behind the auxiliary valve or controlling block a and
moved at right angles to the path of movement of the controlling block a so as to
travel over ports a¹, a², and a³, formed in the latter corresponding to the ports 1,
62, 63, in the cylinder c. The intermittently operated slide valve his formed
on or carried by two pistons g¹, 92, one at either end fitted in a small cylinder
placed transversely of the main cylinder and these pistons gl, g², are traversed
by steam admitted to the outer ends of said cylinder i by the uncovering of steam
ports or passages 1, 72, at each end, on the traverse of the auxiliary valve or
controlling block a, such ports or passages 1, 2, being formed in the main
cylinder.
The cylinder face is preferably formed with a central exhaust port 63 and
steam ports b', 62, on either side of the exhaust port and transversely of the
cylinder c, one port leading to each end of the cylinder c. Above and below
these ports 1, 62, 63, the ports 1, 2, are formed leading one to each end of the
small cylinder in which are fitted the pistons of the intermittently operated
plunger g. On the inner face of the auxiliary valve or controlling block a which
has its ports a¹, a², a³, cut through it corresponding to the ports 61, 62, 63, in the
cylinder face, cavities a, a³, are formed to connect either of the steam ports a¹,
a², with the exhaust port a³ and reverse the engine should the plunger 9 fail to
act, and supplenementary cavities a, a, are formed in the controlling block a
to supply steam, the slide valve h of the plunger g having first cut off steam and
closed the exhaust. The slide valve h has a single exhaust cavity like an ordinary
slide valve, but is formed with end extensions 1, 2, for cutting off steam from
the ports a¹, a², in the main valve a.
The action of the engine is as follows:-
Steam is admitted through the inlet k in the valve casing and passing round
the mid part g of the double plunger fills the valve casing and according to the
position of the slide valve enters either of the steam ports a¹, a², in the
controlling block a and thence passes to either end of the cylinder c. Assuming
the piston of the engine to be in the position shewn at Fig. 1, and practically
at the end of its rear or upward stroke, the controlling block a is just about to
connect the exhaust passage with the steam passage as shewn particularly at
Fig. 1, the steam from behind the piston f having been exhausting during
the upward stroke because of the connection of the cylinder steam port 61, the
controlling block port a¹ and the slide valve recess 3, as shewn at Fig. 3. The
piston moves now to the end of its stroke carrying with it the auxiliary valve or
controlling block a and putting in communication, by way of the port a³ in the
controlling block a, the passage and the exhaust passage 3, at the same time

page_text: connecting the steam port 62 with the exhaust 63 by means of the recess as in the
controlling block a, and steam having been admitted a little previously to the
end g of the plunger g, this plunger is now forced to the opposite end of its
cylinder i. As the plunger g moves it carries with it the slide valve h, which
immediately begins to connect the port 2 of the cylinder, the port a² of the
controlling block a. and the exhaust 63 completing the exhausting of the steam
(begun by the recess as of the controlling block ) from the lower end of the
cylinder c and opening to steam the port al of the controlling block a, which
port a is partially open to the steam port 6 of the cylinder c and opens fully as
On the
the piston f and controlling block a moves forward or downwards.
piston arriving at the lower end of its stroke, the auxiliary valve or controlling
block is brought to such a position that its ports a² and are partially covered
by the recess h³ of the slide valve and steam is practically shut off from its
port a by the slide valve h and, because of the movement of the controlling
block a having exposed the passage to steam and connected the passage j¹ by
means of the controlling block port a with the exhaust 3, steam is admitted
to the end g of the plunger which is thereby forced to the opposite end of its
cylinder i. By this movement of the plunger g, the port a² in the controlling
block a and the port 62 in the cylinder e are opened to steam, and the ports 61 of
the cylinder c and the port a¹ of the block a connected with the exhaust, the
piston f being thereby again forced to the end of its rear or upward stroke. This
completes the cycle of movement of the various parts.
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 direct acting engine the several parts of which are constructed, combined
and arranged to operate, substantially as described.
2. In a direct acting engine, the combination with the usual steam cylinder,
steam and exhaust ports therein, and working piston. of a main valve or con-
trolling block actuated by and with the piston and having steam and exhaust
pcrts therein corresponding in position to the ports on the port face of the
cylinder, and recesses arranged to connect the steam and exhaust ports periodically
and an intermittently operated slide valve arranged to move transversely of
said controlling block at the end of the stroke of the latter and to expose either
of the cylinder steam ports to steam, whilst connecting, by means of its recess,
the other two ports with the exhaust passage in the cylinder, substantially
as described.
3. In a direct acting engine, a controlling block or auxiliary valve positively
connected to and moving with the engine piston, said auxiliary valve having
recesses formed on that face which bears on the port face of the cylinder arranged
to act when necessary to reverse the engine, and having ports through it corre-
sponding to the ports in the port face of the cylinder acting in conjunction with
the slide valve to put the cylinder ports in connection with the steam supply and
with the exhaust alternately, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of August 1900.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.