Improvements in Steam Pumps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept.. 1898
Improvements in Steam Pumps.
I, WILLIAM WALLACE COREY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at 721,
Olive Street, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, Machinist, 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, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through my improved steam pump;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the engine, the housing
being broken away to show the valve mechanism;
Figure is a cross sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view on line 4-4, Figure 8;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the valve seat for the slide valve;
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the slide valve;.
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the semi-circular, fluid thrown valve;
Figure is a side elevational view of the same, and
Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of said valve.
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in steam pumps, being
designed particularly as an improvement upon the steam pump forming the subject-
matter of British Letters Patent No. 6185-97, dated March 9, 1897.
The objects of my present invention are, first, to construct the steam valves of a
direct-acting steam pump in such manner that, in the event of wear thereof, said
valve may be locally repaired without necessitating the renewal of the parts, and,
to accomplish this, I construct a main valve semi-circular in cross-section, and
provide a conversely shaped seat therefor, upon which, and on the flat face of
the main valve, is arranged a valve block, said valve block carrying a flat-
faced auxiliary, cut-off, or slide valve which is mechanically operated, which
slide valve admits and exhausts pressure to and from the ends of the main
valve, to operate said main valve to admit and exhaust pressure to and from
the ends of the cylinder. By forming the upper face of the main valve flat,
and the co-operating face of the valve block in like manner, I am enabled to
grind or scrape such flat faces, which results in practically a renewal of the
parts. In this grinding or scraping action, I also include the valve seat and
plugs in the ends thereof, making such parts flush with the flat face of the main
valve. The auxiliary, or mechanically operated, slide valve can be made tight
in the same manner.
A second object is to arrange the steam valve and the valve gear of a direct
acting steam pump so that steam will be supplied to the piston in such manner
that the piston will start, or come to rest at the end of a stroke, without a shock
or jar.
A third object is to enclose the actuating mechanism for the auxiliary slide valve
within a housing or casing, forming an integral part of the structure, into which
housing I introduce the exhaust steam which carries with it inore or less lubricating
oil used in the cylinder, whereby the moving parts of said valve operating
mechanism are constantly lubricated.

page_text: A fourth object, and, as is well known, the prime object in constructing a direct
acting steam pump, is to effect a positive action of the piston which can only be
accomplished by the constaut tight fitting of the valves which control the admission
and exhaust of steam to and from the piston. This correct fit of the valves, I
obtain by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
With these objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement,
and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described, and
afterwards pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, A indicates the steam cylinder; B the piston; C the piston rod,
on the other end of which is arranged a plunger D operating in pump cylinder E;
and F valves in the water side of the pump which are of the usual arrangement to
control the suction and discharge of the water.
G indicates a valve seat for a semi-circular, fluid thrown valve which is arranged
above the cylinder A, or to one side thereof, as may be desired, the ends of said
valve seat being closed by suitable plugs G¹.
H indicates the steam chest bolted above the valve seat G, into which steam
chest, steam, or other motive fluid, is admitted through a suitable duct h, suitable
pipes being employed to connect with the source of supply, as is obvious.
I indicates a valve block bolted above the valve seat G, said block holding a
semi-circular, fluid thrown valve in its seat, and, also, affording a seat for a slide or
auxiliary valve J mounted thereabove.
K indicates the semi-circular fluid thrown valve operating in valve seat G.
L indicates a cross head arranged on the piston rod C, and carrying rod M which
has arranged on its other end a roller m, shown in Figure 2, which roller operated
in the bifurcated end of a rock arm N. This rock arm, as shown more clearly in
Figure 3, is mounted on the square portion of a spindle O, which spindle has a
squared socket in its inner end for receiving a correspondingly shaped plug O¹,
which plug carries a tappet P co-operating with the slide valve J to throw the same.
Plug O¹ is formed with a reduced circular portion o¹ at its other end which fits into
a socket formed in a removal bearing or thimble o¹¹ threaded in the side wall of tho
steam chest to adjust the lateral position of said plug O¹, said removable bearing or
thimble receiving a jam nut on its outer end which impinges against the outerface
of the steam chest to lock said plug in its adjusted position.
Spindle O which carries the arın N is formed with a circular cone-bearing on its
inner end which is held tightly to its seat by the pressure in the steam chest, and,
at any time that the bearing becomes worn, the bearing or thimble o" may be adjusted
inwardly to take up such wear, after which it is locked in its adjusted position by
the jam nut o¹11. The outer end of spindle O finds a bearing in a housing Q which
is preferably steam-tight, and which receives the exhaust of the engine. This
housing, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, is made of registering sections
projecting from the cylinder A, valve seat G, and steam chest H, said housing being
arranged to one side of the pump, and enclosing the moving parts of the valve
operating mechanism. By running the exhaust in this housing, the oil from the
cylinder carried by the exhausting steam will lubricate the joints of the valve
operating mechanism, which, as is obvious, is an advantageous feature. Again, by
enclosing the moving parts of the valve operating mechanism, little, or no, dust
can enter to cut the joints.
Suitable packing is provided for the rod M, where it enters the housing.
i
As shown in Figure 5, the valve block I is substantially-shaped in plan view,
in addition to which two transversely arranged channels, or recesses, 7 (Fig. 1), are
cut, or formed, in its under face, so that the pressure in the steam chest may be
exerted on the exposed upper face of the semi-circular, fluid thrown valve K,
tending, at all times, to force said valve K to grind a perfect seat for itself.
Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 1, the piston being at
the inner limit of its movement, the slide valve J will be at the right extremnity of
its stroke, and the semi-circular fluid thrown valve K will be at the left extremity
of its stroke. This will cause the pressure in the steam chest to pass through

page_text: chamber 1 in the upper face of the fluid thrown valve K, through opening 2 into
passages 3 and 4, both leading to the right hand end of cylinder A. Passage 3 is
what I term an advance passage leading to the extreme end of cylinder A and
admitting pressure fluid behind the piston B to give the same an initial movement,
after which, the pressure fluid flowing through passage will admit a sufficient
volume of steam behind the piston. Passage 3 is comparatively small, as shown in
Figure 4, while passage 4 is of a sufficient size to admit the required amount of steam
behind the piston. The steam in front of the piston B will exhaust through passage 5,
loading from the opposite end of cylinder A, chamber 6 opening at the lower face
of fluid thrown valve K and to one side thereof, and exhaust passage 7 into the
housing containing the slide valve operating mechanism whence it is let out.
As shown in Figure 3, chamber 6 and passage 7 are located to one side of the
center of the device so as to leave room for the passages 3 and 3. When the
piston B closes the passage 5, valve K still remains in the position above described,
in which passage is closed, and the extremity of the stroke of the piston in this
direction is cushioned. When the piston reaches this position, the tappet P will
have started to move the slide valve J to its other position, in which evont,
the pressure from the steamn chest passes through a passage 8 in the valve block I
to the left hand end of the valve seat G, admitting pressure at the left of the
semi-cylindrical valve K. The pressure at the right of said valve is exhausted
through a passage 9 located some distance from the plug G', so as to cushion the
stroke of said valve, said passage 9 leading into a passage 10 on the under side of
slide valve J, which passage 10 communicates with a passage 11 in said valvo
block, said passage 11 opening into chamber 6 through the medium of a slotted
opening 12 in the valve K which is constantly open to said passage 11.
As the slide valve J moves from its position at the right to its position at the
left, passage 8 remains open the whole time the slide valve is in this position, and
a passage 9, which is an exhaust passage corresponding with the exhaust
passage 9, only at the opposite oud of the engine, is closed. These ports or
passages 8, 8, 9, 9, and 11 in the valve block I, I term the auxiliary ports, in
that they co-operate with the auxiliary or mechanically operated slide valve J, to
operate the main valve K. The slide valve J now having been moved, and the
semi-cylindrical valve K having been thrown the pressure enters into a chamber 1"
corresponding to chamber 1 heretofore described, but in the opposite end of
valve K, through opening 2" and passages 3 and 5, 3 giving to the piston an
initial movement, and 5 admitting the necessary volume of pressure, to move said
piston. The pressure at the inner end of cylinder A is now exhausted through
passage 4, chamber 6 and exhaust passage 7, as before described, the passage 3
being closed by the "blind" side of valve K.
Slide valve J is cut away on one side to co-operate with the admission ports 8
and 8 leading to opposite ends of the valve K to throw said valve, one of said
ports being open while the other is closed, and vice versa. The slide valve J, also,
controls the exhaust from the ends of valve K, valve K controlling the
admission and exhaust of the pressure on each side of the piston B, Baid valve
admitting an initial pressure through an auxiliary port when the piston is
moving in one direction, and "blinding" said auxiliary port when the piston is
moving in the opposite direction, so as to cushion said piston, the auxiliary ports,
as I have termed them, being the ports or passages marked 3 and 3, to which I
have heretofore referred.
The pump proper forms no part of this invention, and, from the above, it will
be seen that the engine is compact and simple in construction, and easily
assembled. In the event that any of the parts become worn, the raised contacting
faces may be planed off substantially as described in the specification before
referred to.
I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and
combination of the several parts of this engine, can be made and substituted for

page_text: those herein shown and described, without, in the least, departing from the naturo
and principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a valve seat, of a semi-cylindrical fluid thrown valve
arranged therein, a valve block arranged upon said valve seat, and co-operating with
the flat face of said fluid thrown valve, said valve block containing all the auxiliary
ports for operating said fluid thrown valve, and a mechanically operated slide valve
operating ou said valve block, to control said auxiliary ports for the main, or fluid
thrown, valve, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a valve seat, of a semi-cylindrical fluid thrown valve
arranged therein and formed with passages to supply steam to the cylinder, a valve
block formed with passages for supplying steam to the steam passages in the main
valve, the ends of said valve block covering the ends of said fluid thrown valve, said
valve block also containing the admission and exhaust ports leading to and from
the ends of said fluid thrown valve, and a mechanically operated slide valve
co-operating with said ports to admit and exhaust pressure to and from the ends of
said fluid thrown valve, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a valve seat, of plugs in each end thereof, a somi-
cylindrical valve operating in said seat, a valve block mounted upon said plugs and
co-operating with the flat face of said valve, said valve block containing admission
and exhaust ports leading to and from the ends of said fluid thrown valve, and a
slide valve operating upon said valve block for controlling said ports, substantially
as described.
4. The combination with a valve seat, of plugs in each end thereof, a semi-
cylindrical fluid thrown valve mounted in said valve seat, a valve block having a flat
lower face co-operating with said valve seat, plugs and the flat face of said fluid
thrown valve, whereby, when any of said parts are worn, the flat faces thereof may
be ground or scraped and refitted, and a mechanically operated slide valve mounted
upon the valve block,.for controlling the ports in said valve block leading to and
from the ends of the semi-cylindrical fluid thrown valve, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a valve seat, of a semi-cylindrical fluid thrown valve
arranged therein, a valve block containing parts for operating said valve, said valve
block being reduced at its sides and formed with spaces i in its under face which spaces
open to the steam pressure, and a mechanically operated valve co-operating with
said valve block to control the ports therein, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a main valve, of a valve block containing ports 8, 8ª,
9, 9, and 11, said valve block being reduced at its sides, and formed with spaces i
on its under side, and slide valve J having a reduced side to co-operate with the
ports 8 and 8 of said valve block, and a port 10 having suitable openings adapted
to co-operate with ports 9, 9, and 11 of said valve block, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a cylinder, of main inlet and exhaust passages leading
thereinto and near the ends thereof, auxiliary passages leading into the extremities
of said cylinder, a valve provided with suitable openings or chambers which are
adapted to register with said passages, said valve being also provided with a blind
side adapted to close the auxiliary passage when the pressure is exhausting from
that end to which said auxiliary passage leads, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a slide valve, of a tappet for throwing the same, a plug
upon which said tappet is mounted, a socketed spindle for receiving one end of said
plug, and an adjustable bearing or thimble for receiving the other end of said plug,
substantially as described.
9. The combination with a slide valve, of a tappet for throwing the same, a plug
upon which the tappet is mounted, a socketed spindle for receiving one end of said
plug, an adjustable bearing or thimble for receiving the other end of said plug, and
ineaus for locking said adjustable bearing or thimble in an adjusted position,
substantially as described.

page_text: 10. The combination with a slide valve, of a tappet for throwing the same, a plug
upon which said tappet is mounted, a socketed spindle for receiving one end of said
plug, said spindle having a cone-bearing in the side wall of a steam chest, whereby
a tight joint may be made, an adjustable bearing for the other end of said plug,
and a lever located outside the steam chest and mounted upon said socketed spindle
for actuating the same, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a steam chest, of a socketed spindle having a cone-
bearing therein, a lever mounted on the outer end of said spindle, a plug which is
received in the socket in the inner end of said spindle, a tappet mounted on said
plug, a bearing for the other end of said plug, which bearing is threaded in the wall
of the steam chest, and a jam nut which is secured on the outer end of said adjustable
bearing, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a steam chest, of a spindle passing therethrough, a
cone-bearing for the spindle, and a tappet arranged in the steam chest, which
tappet is operated by said spindle, said cone-bearing being kept ground to its seat
by the pressure of steam in the steam chest, substantially as described.
13. The combination with an engine cylinder, and steam chest, of a housing
formed to one side thereof, and integral with said parts, said housing receiving the
exhaust of the engine, and a valve operating mechanism arranged within said
housing, substantially as described.
14. In a steam pump, the combination with the engine cylinder and its
piston, of a steam chest, a slide valve arranged in said steam chest a
housing arranged to one side of said steam chest, and cylinder, a tappet
arranged within the steam chest for operating said slide valve, an arm arranged
within said housing and connected to said tappet, a rod for operating said arm, and
cross head connection between said road and the piston rod of the engine,
substantially as described.
a
Dated the and A1000