Improved Means for Actuating the Slide Valves of Steam Engines, and for Discharging Water of Condensation from the Cylinders.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improved Means for Actuating the Slide Valves of Steam
Engines, and for Discharging Water of Condensation
from the Cylinders.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, LEON BERNARD CARRICABURU, of No 38 Courtlandt Street in the City of Now
York State of New York United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for IMPROVED MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE SLIDE
VALVES OF STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR DISCHARGING WATER OF CONDENSATION
FROM THE CYLINDERS to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of steam engines in which the steam valvo
is operated by valve moving pistons in cylinders within or connected with the
valve chest, and to which cylinders the steam is admitted by the action of the
main piston of the engine uncovering the port that leads to the valve moving
cylinder.
My Invention is available with the ordinary D slide valve or with the B slide
valve. With the D valve the steam passes directly from the steam chest into the
respective ports leading to the ends of the cylinder. With the B valve the steam
passes from below up through the respective steam ways of the valve to the steam
ports.
These valves are well known. With my improvements the valve moving pistons
and rods act with the D valve to push the valve when its position is changed;
with the B valve the pistons and their rods act to pull the valve when its position
is changed.
With my improvements in their most complete and perfected form I employ the
valve seat, a central exhaust port, and at each side thereof two ports leading
towards the respective ends of the main steam cylinder and opening into the same,
one of each pair of ports opening into the cylinder close to the head, and the other
at a distance from the head that is nearly equal to the thickness of the steam
piston, and I provide, at each end, two secondary ports leading to the cylinder of
the valve moving piston, one of these secondary ports opens into the exhaust steam
ports, and the other opens into the main steam cylinder or into the main steam
port. When the engine is in operation the exhaust steam passes away by the port
that is furthest from the head of the cylinder, the port nearest the head of the
cylinder being covered by the valve. As the main piston passes the first named
Prina &/1

page_text: port the exhaust steam is confined and forms a cushion to check the momentum of
the piston, and simultaneously the secondary port is uncovered and the live steam
passes from the main cylinder to the valve moving cylinder and piston, and
reverses the position of the valve, admitting steam into the cushioning space and
moving the engine piston the other way.
I arrange the ports in such a manner that after the valve moving piston has
moved the valve the steam is admitted upon the opposite side of the valve moving
piston and carries the valve moving piston and its rod back to the normal position
without moving the valve so as to be out of the way of the valve when it is moved
the other way by the other valve moving piston.
Rubber, or other yielding materials are introduced to prevent noise by the valve
or valve moving pistons striking at the ends of their respective movements.
Provision is made so that steam is admitted through small openings in the
valve, or in the seat or both to the main cylinder when the valve is exactly in the
central position, so that if the valve should accidentally stop in this position
the steam acting in the cylinder will pass through the ports to the proper valve
moving-piston to continue the motion of the valve and to cause it to open the
steam port-at-the proper end-of-the-main cylinder.
In some instances, especially where-the.engine is vertical, spring catches are used
to hold the valve so that it may not drop or be moved out-of-its place accidentally
and these catches are unlatched by the rods of the valve moving pistons.
Where the engine is used as a direct acting engine for pumping water, or under
other circumstances where the resistanco is uniform or nearly so, I am able to use
-the-pressure of the compressed exhaust-steam, or cushioning before named, to act
upon the valve moving pistons.and move the valve. In this-instance the main
piston-closes the exhaust port of the pair of-ports-aforesaid so that the exhaust
steam is confined in the-cylinder, but the auxiliary exhaust port-of-the-valve
moving piston remains open so that the accumulation of pressure by the main
steam piston, compressing the vapours on the exhaust side becomes sufficient_to_
operate the valve moving piston and valve.
Where the compressed or cushioning exhaust is employed to move the valve
moving piston, a port may also be opened by the main piston near the end of its
stroke, for the live steam to pass to the cylinder of the valve moving piston to aid
the compressed or cushioning exhaust in moving the valve. In this case there
must be a valve in the port last named.
In the simpler form of engine I am able to effect the before described movements
by using ono port at each side of the exhaust port in the valve scat, tliese side
ports leading to the ends of the main cylinder and from these ports branch or
auxiliary ports pass to the cylinders containing the valve moving pistons, and
there are also ports leading from cylinders of the valve moving pistons directly
'to the main cylinder which last named ports are uncovered as the main piston
nears the end of its stroke so that the live steam passes to the respective valvo
moving pistons to move the valve as aforesaid.
The water of condensation is discharged from the steam cylinder through ports
at the bottom of the cylinder in which are automatic valves, the steam pressure on
one acts to open the other and allow the water to run off at the exhaust side of the
cylinder, and when the piston is moving the other way the positions of these
valves is reversed and I connect the exhaust port of the steam valve to the
discharge water way by a passage around the cylinder so that water of condensation
in the exhaust passages may run away.

page_text: The exhaust of the steam lessens the pressure in the port 10 and cylinder H,
and the steam in the chest acts upon the rod and drives the piston G back before
the piston C uncovers the port 5, and then the steam coming through 5 and 11
holds G in place and the steam coming through 10 causes the pressures to
balance at opposite sides of the piston G and it remains in its normal position.
I remark that the steam may be admitted in any desired manner to the steam
chest. I have shewn the pipe N, fig: 1, from which there is a port or ports into
the steam chest as indicated by dotted lines.
When the valve is in the opposite position to that shewn in fig. 1 and the
piston C is moving towards the right the parts net in the same manner as before 1
described. The exhaust steam remaining between the port 6 and 28, and cylinder
head is compressed by the piston, the live steam acts through 8 to move G¹, and
the valve as soon as the piston passes beyond and uncovers said port 8, then as
the pressure is relieved by the exhaust through 5 to M and steam is admitted by 7,
the pressure in 8 and H, is lessened and the steam in the chest K acting on the
piston rod of G¹ returns the piston to its normal position and when the movement
of the piston C uncovers the port. 6, the steam acts through 9 to fill the cylinder H¹,
_and_the_pressure at both sides of the piston G¹ is equalized as soon as the piston C,
passes the port 8
It will be understood upon reference to fig. 3, that with a B slide valve the
movements are the reverso of those with the D-slide valve-fig.1, and that the
piston rods pull the valve along instead of pushing it and to effect these
movements the ports 10 and 8 open at the sides of the pistons G, G', next-to-the-
valve instead of at the back of such pistons.
The operations are identical with those before described; the steam passing
around below the end of the valve F and through 7-moves the piston C and
after is uncovered then the steam-passes through both 6 and 7 to move the
piston to the left as indicated by the arrow. The port 4,-being closed the exhaust-
steam will cushion after the piston covers the exhaust port 5, and when-the-piston
passes beyond the port 10, the live steam will be admitted-by-10, to move G and
the valve F, so that live steam passes through 4 to move the piston C.
The exhaust being opened through 6 to Ml the pressure will be relieved on the
piston G, and the steam passing into the port 5 at the same time that it passes
into the port 4 goes by the port 11 into the cylinder H and returns the piston G
to its normal position, and as the steam piston C moves to the right, the port 5
will be first uncovered and then the pressure will be equalized at both sides of G,
when the port 10 is uncovered. Similar movements to those before described will
take place in moving the piston G' at the other end of the stroke of the piston C.
I provide notches between horns upon the valve F, fig: 3, for the nuts g³, g³, of
the valve moving piston rods to act against in moving the valve; and I sometimes
introduce rubber or other yielding material at P¹ to receive the blow from the
valve moving pistons G, G¹, respectively, and prevent any noise should there be a
concussion, and I prefer to introduce rubber, or similar material, at P, fig. 1, for
the ends of the valve moving piston rods to press against and prevent concussion
by the sudden movement of the valve.
If the valve and engine stand vertically or at an inclination or if it becomes
desirable to hold the valve at the ends of the stroke I make use of spring latches
having hooks 12, that are run under by and catch the projections 13, upon the
body of the valve. In order to unlatch these respective latches I provide on each
an incline 14, adjacent to a shoulder upon the valve moving piston rod, so that
when the said rod is moved forward by the piston, the first thing the shoulder does
is to under run the incline 14, and lift the spring latch so as to liberate the
projection 13 from the spring latch and allow the valve to be moved freely. If
from any obstruction the valve should only be moved sufficiently to exactly cover
both steam ports 4 and 7, figs. 1 and 4, or to just close the steam inlets below the
valve, fig 3, the parts might come to a stand still. To prevent the parts remaining
in this condition I provide the ports 20, 21, passing down to the steam cylinder A

page_text: and I drill holes through the valve or make recesses in the under surface of tho
valve at 22, 23, so that when the valve is in the position named, the recesses or
holes correspond with these ports 20 and 21, and let steam pass into these small
ports 20 and 21 and act through the port 10 or 8, upon whichever valve moving
piston is to be further moved to complete the movement of the valve. The
openings 22 23 only correspond with 20, 21, at the middle portion of the valve
movement, and the ports 20, 21, are closed at all other times.
It often happens that water of condensation accumulates in the cylinder
especially of a pumping engine when first started, and also in the stand pipe
through which the exhaust steam escapos. I provide for removing this in the
following manner :-
Beneath the cylinder A is a small valvo chamber T which is tubular and provided
with caps 25, at the ends and valves 26, with triangular guide stoms in the smaller
inner portion of the tubular chamber T. The combined length of the two valve
stems is greater than the distance between the seats for the valves and there are
ports 27, 28 from the ends of the chamber T to the steam cylinder, and a lateral
discharge pipe 29 between the valve sents which may be provided with a cock.
When steam acts on one side of the piston C, the pressure closes the valve 26, upon
which it acts, opening, at the same time the other valve, so that water of con-
densation can run off at the exhaust side from the cylinder A. These operations aro
automatic, tho valves 26, closing and opening in opposite directions, each admission
of steam to the cylinder, hence water of condensation will always be taken away.
Furthermore, I make a chamber v under the steam cylinder and a circumferential
channel around the steam cylinder, as at U, to connect the exhaust port M with
the discharge pipe 29, in order that any water of condensation in the rising exhaust
steam pipe may be at liberty to run down at once into the chamber vand pass
away by the pipe 29 and cock along with the water of condensation from the steam
cylinder.
When the valve F, is on its centre and the ports 20 and 21 are open into the
steam cylinder, if the steam piston C is covering one of the ports 10 or 8, and'
thereby obstructing the operation of the valve motion, the steam admitted by 20
and 21, will act upon the steam piston moving it until the port 10 or 8 that had
been covered, is uncovered, and the steam acting through such port upon the valve
moving piston will remove the valve from its central position. In fig: 5, portions
of the steam valve and valve chest and ports are shewn together with ports 20, 21,
that pass to the ports 8 and 10 respectively instead of going into the steam
cylinder.
In this case, if the valve F stops accidentally over the ports 4 and 7, closing
them, the holes through the valve F at 22, 23, coincide with the inner ends of the
ports 20, 21, and the steam is admitted to both the cylinders H, H¹, but if the
piston C, is beneath the piston G, the port 5 will be closed thereby, and steam in
the engine cylinder cannot reach both sides of the piston G, hence the steam acting
upon one side only of the said piston G, causes the same to move and complete the
throw of the valve F.
During this time the piston G¹ has remained out of the way because the steam
pressed it on both sides, by reaching the same through the port 20 and through the
ports 8, 6 and 9 to the other side of G', thereby balancing the pressure upon both
sides of the piston G'.
If the piston C is below the valve imoving piston G¹, when the valve F stops in
the position shewn in fig. 5, the steam will act upon one side of G, moving it and
the valve, but the pressure will be balanced at the two sides of G, and that will
remain out of the way.
Figs. 6 to 11 shew modifications of the devices hereinbefore described. .
With the D valve shewn in fig. 6 the ports 8 and 10 respectively open into
the ports
and 7 and the construction of the other parts is the same as before
described.

page_text: If the steam is passing by 7 into the cylinder A, the port 4 is closed at its upper
end by the valve F, the exhaust 5 is open to M, and the ports 8 and 9 are open
to H, so that the pressure is equal at both sides of the valve moving piston G', and
the piston C will receive motion in the direction of the arrow.
The exhaust port 5 being open, the exhaust pressure will be the same at both
sides of the piston G, because both 10 and 11 are open by 4 and 5, into the
cylinder A, but as soon as the piston C passes the port 5, it closes the same and the
confined exhaust steam is compressed in the cylinder A, ports 4 and 10 and
behind C (the exhaust in front of G remaining open by 11, 5 to M.), and as soon as
the accumulating pressure is sufficient the piston G, the valve F, piston G¹ and rods
are inoved and the valve F admits steam by 4 and closes the port 7, and allows the
exhaust by 6 to M.
"
If the valve F does not move fully, the steam admitted by 4 will pass through 10,
ensuring the complete movement of G and this takes place before the steam is
admitted into 5 and 11 by the piston C moving in the opposite direction and
uncovering the port 5. The pistons G and G¹ will remain quiescent in consequence
of there being equal pressure upon both of their surfaces.
The same-operations take place as the piston C approaches the port 7, the
exhaust steain is confined after the piston-passes the exhaust 6, and is compressed
and eventually moves the piston G; valve F, and the piston Gin-the-other_
direction admitting steam by 7 into the cylinder and also by 8, into the cylinder-H
to ensure the full movement of the valve moving pistons and the valve back to the
position shewn in fig. 6.
The length of the valve-Fis slightly less than the distance between the outer
edges-of-the-ports 4 and 7, hence both ports cannot be entirely-covered at the same
time or else there is a small notch-cut in each end of the valve, as seen at 30,-in-
figs. 6-and-8, or in the outer edges of the ports 4 and 7, for the same purpose; HO
that steam can pass into both ports 4 and-7, and the piston C being at one end and
covering the port 5 (or the port 6) the steam will continuo-to-act-upon the
piston G (or G¹) and will move the same and its connected valve F, the pressure on
the other valve moving piston being equalized, hence the full movement of the
valve is ensured.
The same effect is produced if the piston C is covering either port 5 or 6, because
the piston C in covering the port 5 or 6 acts as a valve to exclude steam from the
valve moving piston at the side opposite to that upon which the live steam is
acting.
In place of the notches 30, holes may be made through the valve at or near the
ends, or through the valve seat into the ports, or there may be small grooves made
in the face of the valve or of the valve seat or both, to admit steam in the same
manner as the said notches 30 and to effect the same object.
The ports shewn in fig. 7 operate with the B slide valve to produce the same
opening and closing of the ports and movements of the valve as aforesaid, but in
consequence of the ports 8 and 10 leading to the respective cylinders H and H', at
the sides of the pistons G, G', next to the valve, the valve will be pulled along
instead of being pushed, as in fig. 6, and this is the proper motion to be given to
the B slide valve, for it will be seen that when the steam is passing by 7 (or by 6
and 7) into the cylinder A, the pressure through 8 and 9 upon G' is equal at both
sides and the exhaust in H is open at both sides of the valve moving piston until
the steam piston C covers the exhaust port 5 and the confined steam is compressed
until its force is sufficient to act through the ports 4 and 10, and draw the valve F
towards the valve cylinder H reversing the position of the valve F, and admitting
steam by 4 and 10, to the cylinders A, H and causing the piston C to move the
other way.
If desired, there may be a third port 39; at each end of the cylinder, as shown in
fig. 9, the same opening into the steam cylinder at rather more than the thickness of
the piston from the end and such port leads at one end to the port 10, and at the

page_text: ther end to the port 8, and in such ports 39 there are valves 25, opening towards
he valve moving cylinders. The object of these ports 39 is to ensure the move-
nent of the valve moving pistons and valve when the engine is moving slowly for
t will be apparent that the piston C not only compresses the confined steam but it
Iso uncovers the port 39 admitting live steam from the cylinder A to act directly
on the valve moving pistons so as to ensure the proper movement if the compressed
exhaust is insufficient. The valve 25 in each port 39 prevents the steam
exhausting through 39 when the valve F has been moved.
In figs. 10 and 11 I have represented my improvement in a very simple or
lementary form.
There is a steam port 10 passing from the cylinder A to the back end of the
ylinder H and this port 10 is a sufficient distance from the cylinder head to allow
the piston C to pass by and uncover the said port 10 before the piston C reaches the
end of its stroke so that steam from the cylinder A rushos into the cylinder H and
moves the piston G, piston rod and valve F, to the right, opening the port 7 to the
exhaust or eduction M, and admitting live steam from the steam chest K through
the port 4, to move the piston C to the right.
The exhaust now acts in the cylinder A, and at the same time the steam in the
port 4, passes also into the cylinder H by the port 11, and moves the piston G and
rod back to the left out of the way of the valve F, so that said valve may be moved
to the left by the action of the piston G' after the piston C has passed the port 8
and steam has entered through the same into the cylinder H¹.
The parts connected with the cylinder H¹, piston Q¹ and piston rod act in the
same manner in moving the valve F and admitting steam to the right hand end
of the cylinder A, as the corresponding parts of the left hand end of the cylinder
as before described.
In the diagram section, fig. 11, the same parts are shewn as before described,
except that the ends of the piston rods are made with collars or projections within
the valve F that act to pull the valve end-wise instead of pushing it. In this case
the ports are changed so that the port 8 admits steam into the cylinder H¹, to
move the piston G³ to the right and draw the valve along to the right. The valve F,
instead of being made with two bearings to form a D valve is made with three
bearings to form the B valve, both of which valves are well known.
With this modification the port 9 will be at the back end of the piston G¹ so
that steam from 7 will pass into the same and move the piston G¹ towards the
valve F in order that the piston rod will not detain the valve when the time
arrives for said valve to be inoved the other way by the corresponding appliances
at the left hand end of the cylinder, as shewn in the drawing.
In all these instances each valve moving piston and rod has its own independent
movements, and these result primarily from the engine piston uncovering a port
in the main cylinder.
Each valve moving piston actuates the valve in one direction only, and in the
other direction, except as shewn in figs. 6, 7 and 9, it returns to a point of rest
leaving the valve in a position to be actuated by the other valve moving piston,
hence the steam when acting to move the valve has only to overcome the friction
of the valve and the piston and rod that moves the same.
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:
First. The combination with the steam cylinder and piston, of the valve F, the
valve moving pistons G, G³, the cylinders for the same, the ports 4, 5, 6 and 7,
leading from the steam chest to the cylinder A, and the ports 8 and 10 leading
from the cylinder A to the cylinders H, H¹, respectively, and the ports 9 and 11
between the ports 5 and 6 and cylinders H, H, respectively, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The combination with the steam valve and two separate and inde
pendent valve moving pistons, of two steam ports and two exhaust ports extending

page_text: from the valve seat to the main cylinder and an exhaust outlet, the parts being
arranged substantially as set forth, so that the steam piston is cushioned at the
end of each stroke and the steam ports open into the cushioning spaces of the steam
cylinder and the live steam is admitted by the valve directly into the cushion to
move the piston, substantially as specified.
Third. The combination with the valve and the valve moving pistons and rods,
of india rubber or other yielding material between the valve and the piston rods,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the valve, the valve moving pistons and rods, of
the latches constructed substantially as set forth, to retain the valve when moved
and to be unlatched by the piston rod as it commences to move the valve, substan-
tially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the valve, of the valve moving pistons, piston rods
and cylinders, and the respective ports between the steam chest, the engine cylinder
and the cylinders for the valve moving pistons, and the ports 20, 21, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The steam cylinder A having the ports and tubular valve chamber T in
the lower part of the same, and the removeable caps 25 at the ends of such chamber,
in combination_with_the_separate valves 26, introduced from opposite ends into
such valve-chamber, substantially as specified.
Seventh. The combination with the steam engine cylinder, of a chamber v, and-
the channel around the cylinder connecting with the exhaust port for the discharge-
of the water of condensation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The combination with a steam valve having one or more small passages,
of a valve seat with one-or-more-openings into the steam cylinder and closed by 2
-said valve.except when the valve is in a central position, in-order-to-communicate
the pressure from the steam chest to the steam-enclosed in the cylinder when the
valve-is-on-its.centre, so that the steam will act upon the valve moving devices-and-
complete the movement of the valve, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In a direct acting steam engine, a valve and one or more openings-3
controlled by the valve and acting when the valve is on its dead centre to admit
more steam to the valve moving device for completing the movement, substantially
as specified.
Tenth. The combination with the steam cylinder and piston, and the valve, of the
valve moving pistons, the cylinders for the, same and two ports near each end of 3
the steam cylinder, and branch ports to the respective valve cylinders at each side
of the pistons, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the valve and its valve moving pistons, of the
steam cylinder and two ports at each end with branch ports to the valve cylinder
and pistons, substantially as set forth, whereby the steam piston near each end of 4
its stroke closes one of the ports and compresses the exhaust steam and causes the
same to actuate the valve moving piston, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. In combination with the steam piston, the valve moving pistons and
valve, a valve scat with the main steam ports slightly different in length from
the valve, so that steam can not be entirely excluded from the ports, and branch
ports from the main ports to the valve cylinders and pistons, substantially as set
forth.
Thirteenth. The branch ports 39 and valves 25 therein, opening towards and in
combination with the valve cylinders and pistons, and valve, and the ports 4, 5, 6, 7
and branch ports 8, 9, 10, 11, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. In a steam engine having valve moving pistons, and ports between
the steam cylinder and the cylinders of the valve moving pistons, valves in two
of such ports opening towards such valve moving pistons, substantially as set
forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with a piston and steam cylinder, of a valve, two
steam ports passing from the valve seat to each end of the steam cylinder and
valve moving pistons, cylin lers for the same, and ports substantially as specified.
i
50

page_text: Sixteenth. The combination with the piston and steam cylinder of a valve
having the notches 30, br their equivalents, two steam ports passing from the
valve sent to each end of the steam cylinder, and valve moving pistons, cylinders
for the same, and ports substantially as specified.
Seventeenth. The combination with a steam valve F, of the pistons G, G¹,
piston rods, cylinders H, H', ports 4, 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, substantially as set forth,
whereby the pistons aro moved in both directions by the action of the steam, and
when moving one way, give motion to the valve, and when moving the other way
allow the valve to remain stationary, as specified.
Eighteenth. The combination with a steam valve of two small, separate and
independent steam pistons, having their rods projecting inside of the steam chest,
and acting alternately upon the valve, each piston and rod working independently
of the other and moving the valve and then returning to its normal position,
substantially as specified.