IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CON- TROLLING THE ADMISSION OF STEAM TO THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Michael Rye, of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CON-
TROLLING THE ADMISSION OF STEAM TO THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 6th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Michael Rye at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1876.
WILLIAM MICHAEL RYE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTROLLING THE ADMISSION OF STEAM TO THE
CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES."
My Invention relates more particularly to such steam engines as are worked
expansively, and has for its object to effect the prompt cutting off of the steam at
variable points in the stroke as determined by the action of the governor. To this
end I cause the governor to control the movements and relative times of acting of
an auxilliary piston, from the movements of which are derived the cutting off
movements of the cut-off valves. In arrangements which I now consider to be
suitable an excentric or a cam is mounted on the governor spindle, and is arranged
to be rotated thereupon by the rising and falling of the governor balls, or otherwise
by the action of the governor; as, for example, a pin or key fixed to an internal rod
which is connected with the governor sleeve may work in a spiral or screw shaped
groove formed in the boss of the said excentric. The said excentric gives motion to
the valve or valves of the auxilliary cylinder. The rod of the said auxilliary
piston is connected with the cut-off valve, spindle or spindles.
In one arrangement the inlet and exhaust to and from the main cylinder are
controlled by means of a cylindrical valve which is fitted to slide to-and-fro, and
also to rotate to some extent the rotating movements effecting the cutting off of the
steam. On the spindle of this valve a lever arm is mounted in such a manner as
that the endwise movements of the said spindle are not interfered with; as, for
example, a portion of the said spindle may be squared and fitted to slide within the
boss of the said lever arm. The said lever arm is connected with the said auxilliary
piston rod in such a manner as that when the auxilliary piston moves in one
direction or the other, the valve spindle of the main cylinder is rotated in one
direction or the other, the movement in one direction cutting off the steam from
one end of the cylinder, the reverse movement cutting off the steam from the other
[Price 6d.]

page_text: A
end of the said cylinder. This arrangement will vary according to the construction
and method of action of the cut-off valves; as, for example, in some cases the said
cut-off valve or valves may be arranged to slide upon the back of the main slide
valve or valves in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the
said main valve or valves. The said auxilliary cylinder is formed with separate
inlet and exhaust ports so arranged as that when the piston is forced by the steam
pressure from one end of the cylinder to the other the said piston passes the
exhaust port, and thereby shuts off the exhaust and imprisons a portion of steam
which acts as a cushion to prevent the piston from striking the cylinder end.
small passage
formed through which steam can flow from one side of the piston
to the other, the said passage tending to relieve the excess of pressure produced by
the cushioning, and to produce an equilibrium of pressure after each stroke, whereby
the rebound of the piston is prevented or checked. The said cylinder may con-
veniently be fitted with a cylindrical slide valve. The end of the piston rod may
be formed with a cylindrical cross head which is fitted to slide within a cylindrical
guide, and to which is jointed the rod which is connected with the aforesaid lever
arm, or if preferred the said cylinder may be arranged to oscillate. The aforesaid
cam or excentric may be mounted upon a shaft other than the governor spindle,
and the arrangements for actuating it may be varied so long as its movements are
so accelerated or retarded by the action of the governor as that the movements of
the auxilliary piston are caused to occur at an earlier or later period in the stroke
of the main piston as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Michael Rye in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
September 1876.
WILLIAM MICHAEL RYE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTROLLING THE ADMISSION OF STEAM
TO THE CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES."
My Invention relates more particularly to such steam engines as are worked
expansively, and has for its object to effect the prompt cutting off of the steam at
variable points in the stroke as determined by the action of the "governor." To this
end I cause the governor to control the movements and relative times of acting of
an auxilliary piston, from the movements of which are derived the cutting off move-
ments of the cut-off valves. In arrangements which I now consider to be suitable
an excentric or a cam mounted on the governor spindle, and arranged to be rotated
thereupon by the rising and falling of the governor balls, or otherwise by the action of
the governor, gives motion to the valve or valves of the auxilliary cylinder. The rod
of the said auxilliary piston is connected with the cut-off valve, spindle or spindles.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made about half the full size, and marked with
letters of reference, corresponding letters indicating the same parts in the various
Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the
valve chest of a steam engine having my said improvements applied thereto, and
Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A in Fig. 1.
In the said Figure a is the valve chest; b is the slide valve; and c is the cut-off
valve. In the example the said cut-off valve is mounted on the back of the slide
valve, and is fitted to slide thereon in a direction at right angles to the direction of
motion of the slide valve. The back of the said slide valve is formed with two sets
of ports which communicate with the passages e, e, through which steam is admitted
to the port of the steam cylinder of the engine, and the said cut-off valve is formed
with corresponding ports f, f, which are so arranged as that one set of ports shall be
open when the other set of ports is closed, as is usual in this class of cut-off valve..

page_text: An auxilliary steam cylinder represented also in cross section by Fig. 3 is secured
to a casting h, which is bolted to the valve chest a. The piston rod i which is
attached to the auxilliary piston k extends through a gland into the valve chest a,
and the inner end of the said rod is furnished with a bowl m, which extends into a
channel formed by two vertical ribs o, o, which are cast upon the back of the cut-
off valve. This arrangement permits the said cut-off valve to move to and fro with
the main slide valve, at the same time that any sliding movement of the rod i is at
once communicated to the said cut-off valve. The movements of the said auxilliary
piston are controlled by the cylindrical sliding valve p, which is supplied with
steam from the chest a by means of a passage formed in the casting h. The
exhaust steam from the said valve is conducted away through the pipe 8. The
steam is admitted to the auxilliary cylinder through the ports u, u, and the exhaust,
steam is discharged through the ports v, v, which are situated at a distance from the
ends of the cylinder, the effect being that a portion of steam is imprisoned by the
piston passing the exhaust port during each stroke, the steam so imprisoned forming
an elastic cushion, and preventing the piston from striking the cylinder covers.
To
prevent or lessen the rebound of the piston which would be caused by the elasticity
of the imprisoned steam, I form a small hole or passage through the piston, or a
bye pass in the cylinder casting, in order that the pressure on both sides of the
piston may be quickly equalised after each stroke of the piston.
Fig. 4 indicates the arrangement which I employ to work the valve p. In this
Figure w represents a portion of the governor spindle, upon which is mounted an
excentric, which is formed with a long boss, and is held in position by collars y, y.
The spindle w is bored to receive an internal rod z, which is connected with the
sleeve of the governor, or is otherwise arranged to be moved up and down by the
governor as the speed of the engine varies. The inner end of the rod z is attached
to or formed with a block, which carries an antifriction bowl which works in a
spiral groove formed in the boss of the said excentric, the arrangement being such
as that when the said rod is pushed inwards or drawn outwards the said excentric
is caused to rotate upon the spindle w. The strap of the excentric is connected by
means of a rod with the spindle of the valve p, the method of connection being made
suitable to each case. The parts are so arranged and proportioned as that when
the engine "slows," that is to say, commences to run below its normal speed, the
excentric is turned upon the spindle w in the direction which will cause it to so act
upon the valve p, as that the strokes of the auxilliary piston shall be performed
later as compared with the strokes of the engine piston, a contrary effect being
produced when the engine "speeds," or runs above its normal speed. It will
readily be understood that each time the steam is admitted to act upon the
auxilliary piston, the said piston is thrown over or moved quickly towards one end
or the other of its cylinder, whereby the cut-off valve is slid upon the main slide
valve, and the access of steam to the main cylinder is cut off. A guide piece a¹
inserted through the "bonnet" of the valve chest a steadies the inner end of the
rod i. The arrangements for controlling the valve of the auxilliary cylinder may
be varied so long as the said valve is under the control of the "governor."
The details of the auxilliary cylinder and connections may be varied, and also
the form and mode of action of the cut-off valve.
Fig. 5 indicates the manner in which the auxilliary piston may be employed in
connection with a different form of slide valve. In this example the slide valve b
of the main steam cylinder is supposed to be cylindical in form, the steam passages
being so arranged as that a rocking or rotating movement of the valve within its
case shall cut off the steam from one end of the cylinder, and shall bring the inlet
passage for the other end of the cylinder into position to admit steam to the
cylinder by the sliding movement of the valve. The spindle c¹ of the said valve is
squared for a part of its length, and this part slides within the boss of a lever d¹,
which is connected by means of a link el with the piston rod of the auxilliary
cylinder. The movements of the auxilliary piston cause the valve b¹ to rock upon
its axis, whereby the inlet of steam is cut off at times which are regulated by the

page_text: governor. The valve b¹ is rocked first in one direction and then in the other
direction, whereby the steam is cut of from both ends of the cylinder in alternation,
as will be well understood. To suit this arrangement the auxilliary cylinder may
be provided with a cylindrical guide, in which a cylindrical cross head fixed or
formed on the end of the piston may be arranged to slide, and the end of the link,
not seen in Fig. 5, be jointed to the said cross head, but to this arrangement I do
not confine myself, as the important feature of my Invention is the use of the
auxilliary cylinder and piston.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
means whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be under-
stood in conclusion that I claim-
First. The arrangements and combinations of parts substantially as and for
the purpose set forth and indicated herein-before, and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The aforesaid auxilliary cylinder fitted and arranged substantially as
and for the purpose set forth and indicated herein-before, and by the accompanying
Drawings.
And, lastly. The employment of an auxilliary steam cylinder and piston having a
valve or valves controlled by the "governor" to actuate the cut-off valve or valves
of a steam engine cylinder.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Michael Rye, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the said William
Michael Rye in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princes Street,
Manchester.
WILLIAM MICHAEL RYE. (L.S.)