Improvements in Valves of Steam Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves of Steam Engines.
I, ARTHUR SOWDEN of Pinewood House, Bradford in the County of York,
Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved trip gear applicable to either "Corliss,”
flat, V, square or round slide valves of steam engines.
By use of the improved trip gear a rapid "shut off" of the steam is ensured, and
the different slides, or valves can all work or move parallel to one another.
According to this invention I employ in connection with any of the known slides
or valves two blocks one near each end of and passing through the valve or slide.
One end of each block rests on a tappet shaft or shaft on which are formed wide
tappets, said shaft being driven by gear wheels from any convenient going part.
The blocks pass through the slide or valve and travel to and fro with it, and on the
opposite side of the slide or valve to the tappet shaft are two supplementary slides,
one at each end, and these slides are connected by links with the ordinary spring
cylinder or cylinders in which are placed the springs for actuating the "shut off"
valves.
The two supplementary slides have slots formed in them, through which slots the
blocks pass, and have also recesses, or projections formed in or on them. These
recesses or projections can engage with corresponding projections or recesses on or
in the blocks.
The action is as follows: :- -When the engine is in motion, and the tappet shaft
rotates, a to and fro motion is imparted to the blocks by such tappets and when the
slide or valve moves so as to-say-open the steam supply the supplementary slide
engages with the block and by the latter is drawn forward with the slide or valve
until such time as the tappet shaft having brought the tappet into contact with the
block, the latter is moved and disengages with the supplementary slide and the
latter is by the spring cylinder, suddenly drawn and moved back and the steam
supply is "shut off."
When the slide moves back the tappet being out of contact with the block the
latter will again engage with the supplementary block and as the slide moves
forward the steam supply is opened.
The action of the supplementary slides at each end of the slide or valve is
similar.
By changing the position or shape of the recesses or projections in or on the
blocks the slide valves can be caught or released, at any required time or point in
the movement.
The tappets are made wide so that the blocks remain in contact therewith as
they follow the motion of the slide.
Dated the 12th day of January 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves of Steam Engines.
I ARTHUR SOWDEN of Pinewood House, Bradford in the County of York
Machine Maker 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved trip gear applicable to either "Corliss
flat V square or round slide valves of steam engines.
"
By use of the improved trip gear a rapid "shut off" of the steam is ensured and
the different slides or valves can all work or move parallel to one another.
According to this invention I employ in connection with any of the known slides
or valves two blocks one near each end of and passing through the valve or slide.
One end of each block is supported by a spindle resting on a tappet shaft or
shaft on which are formed wide tappets, said shaft being driven by gear wheels
from any convenient going part. The blocks pass through the slide or valve and
travel to and fro with it and on the opposite side of the slide or valve to the tappet
shaft are two supplementary slides one at each end, and these slides are connected
by links with the ordinary spring cylinder or cylinders in which are placed the
springs for actuating the valves.
The two supplementary slides have slots formed in them through which slots the
spindles of the blocks pass and have also recesses or projections formed in or on
them.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a com-
plete description of same reference being had to the accompanying drawings in
which :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of engine having my improvements in valves
applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of part of engine with a modified form of the improve-
ments in valves applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation on line A. B. of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4 are plan views of two forms of slides.
According to this invention I employ in connection with any of the known slides
or valves two blocks 1. 1. one near each end of the slide 2 and carried on the
spindles 12 which pass through slots 10 (see Figs. 4) in the trip slides 4. 4.
One
end of each block 1. is suspended just clear of the shaft on which are formed
wide tappets (see Fig. 1) said shaft 3 being driven by gear wheels from any con-
venient going part of the engine. The blocks 1. 1 pass through the slide 2 and
travel to and fro with said slide. On the opposite side of the slide 2 to the tappet
shaft 3 are two trip slides 4. 4. one at each end and these slides 4. 4 are connected
by links 5, cranks 6 on valve spindle 7 and connecting rods 71 with the ordinary
spring cylinder 8 or the cylinder in which are placed the springs 9 (Fig. 2) for
actuating the valves.
The two trip slides 4. 4. have slots 10 (see Figs. 4) formed in them, through which
slots the rods 12 carrying the blocks 1. 1. pass, and said trip slides 4. 4. have also
recesses 13. 13. or may have projections 14 (see right hand side of Fig. 2) formed
in or on them. These recesses 13. or projections 14. engage with the blocks 1. 1.
or with the recess 14" of the slide 4ª (see Fig. 2).
The action is as follows:-When the engine is in motion and the tappet shaft 3
rotates, a to and fro or up and down motion is imparted to the spindles 12. 12. and
blocks 1. 1. by such tappets, and when the slide 2 moves so as (to say) open the
steam supply or valves the trip slides 4 or 4 engages with the block 1. or with the
projection 14 as the case may be and is thereby drawn forward with the slide 2
until such time as the tappet shaft 3 having brought its tappet into contact with the
foot of spindle 12 and the latter is lifted and the trip slide 4 or 4* is disengaged

page_text: from the slide 2 and block 1. or 14 and the trip slide is by the. spring cylinder 8
suddenly drawn and moved back and the steam supply is shut off.
When the slide 2 moves back the tappet 3 being out of contact with the spindle 12
and block 1 the latter will again engage with the trip slide 4 and as the slides 2
move forward the steam supply is opened.
The action of the trip slides 4 at each end of the slide 2 is similar.
By changing the position or shape of the recesses 13 or projections 14 in or on
the blocks 1 the slide valve 4 or 4ª can be caught or released at any required time
or point in the movement.
The tappets 3 are made wide so that the spindle 12 and blocks remain in contact
therewith as they follow the motion of the slide 2.
It will be seen from above description that the improvements herein described
dispenses with all the springs as hereinbefore used, also of the rocking motion and
ensures a perfectly horizontal movement of the slides. The apparatus. may of
course be arranged to work in vertical position but in either case there is the same
movement of the slides all rocking being dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed and carried into
practice I declare that what I claim is
1. The improvements in the valves of steam engines comprising slide 2 trip
slides 4, 4* together with the blocks 1 operated by spindles 12 and eccentrics 3
whereby a horizontal movement is secured for the said slides as described.
2. The slide 2 having_horizontal_or_vertical_movement_in_conjunction with the
trip slides 4 or 4* as and for purpose described.
Dated this 26th day of July 1895.
ARTHUR SOWDEN,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.